In an exhilarating showdown on Wednesday, Francisco Lindor delivered yet another signature moment in his stellar season, belting a grand slam in the sixth inning to propel the New York Mets to a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. This decisive win secured the Mets’ advancement to the NLCS for the first time in over two decades. As the final out was recorded by Edwin Díaz, who fanned Kyle Schwarber with two men on, the jubilant Mets celebrated clinching their first home postseason series in 24 years, with a 3-1 series victory.
“I want to win it all,” Lindor expressed earnestly, speaking with his young daughter perched on his lap. “This team will be remembered for ages, dining for free in this city for years to come.” However, he remained focused on the ultimate prize, reminding everyone, “The job isn’t done yet.”
An emotional Brandon Nimmo embraced Lindor as their teammates stormed the field in uncontainable joy. Inside a champagne-drenched locker room, they reveled in the historic moment — the first such celebration in Citi Field’s 16-season history. The last time the Mets achieved a similar feat in New York was during the 2000 NLCS at Shea Stadium. Nimmo, still awestruck, said, “This is the stuff dreams are made of. We’ve waited so long for this moment, for our fans.”
Next on the Mets’ horizon is the best-of-seven NLCS, set to begin Sunday. Their opponent, either the San Diego Padres or Los Angeles Dodgers, will be determined after Game 5 of their own nail-biting series. Speaking to fans, slugger Pete Alonso, brimming with pride, said, “We’ve conquered so much, but we’re not stopping now!”
For the Phillies, however, the season’s conclusion was filled with frustration. Despite their 95-win season and NL East crown, a familiar foe knocked them out early, dashing their hopes of building on their 2022 World Series appearance. “It’s tough,” said manager Rob Thomson, “We were beaten in a short series. That’s the harsh reality.”
Throughout the game, the Mets’ offense tested Philadelphia’s pitching staff, but initially left many opportunities unfulfilled. They loaded the bases multiple times against starter Ranger Suárez but failed to capitalize until Lindor’s blast turned the tide. The Mets’ patience and perseverance finally paid off in the sixth inning when Francisco Alvarez narrowly avoided grounding into a double play before Lindor stepped to the plate. His heroics were just another chapter in a season filled with them, after having clinched pivotal victories late in September to ensure the Mets’ postseason run.
The Mets’ pitching staff also rose to the occasion, with Jose Quintana putting together a solid five-inning performance, surrendering no earned runs. David Peterson followed with 2 1/3 innings of shutout work, earning the win. Despite some late-inning drama in the ninth when Díaz walked two batters, he recovered to record the save — the first of his postseason career.
Philadelphia, struggling at the plate throughout the series, mustered its lone run off an error by Mets’ third baseman Mark Vientos in the fourth inning. Meanwhile, reliever Jeff Hoffman, tasked with preserving the tie in the sixth, ultimately suffered his second loss of the series, emblematic of a Phillies bullpen that faltered at crucial moments. “We just didn’t execute well enough,” Thomson reflected, summing up a series of missed chances for his squad.
With this latest chapter in Mets history written, the team’s focus remains squarely on the World Series title that has eluded them since 1986. Owner Steve Cohen summed it up simply: “We’re on a mission to rewrite the narrative, and we’re not stopping here.”