NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso hit another home run off Aaron Nola, and Sean Manaea pitched scoreless into the eighth inning, as the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 on Tuesday, taking a 2-1 lead in the National League Division Series.
Jesse Winker also sent the ball to the other side of the fence and Dominican Starling Marte hit a key two-run single to help the Mets, who advanced with the wild card ticket and played their first home game in 16 days.
Now, New York is one win away from taking the series.
The fourth game is scheduled for this Wednesday at Citi Field. The Venezuelan Ranger Suárez, (12-8 with an ERA of 3.46) would start for Philadelphia against another left-hander, the Colombian José Quintana (10-10, with a 3.75 earned runs allowed).
If they advance to the National League Championship Series, the Mets would face the Los Angeles Dodgers or the San Diego Padres.
The Mets have never secured victory in a series at Citi Field, which opened in 2009.
“We’re hoping to finish this and be ready. They’re going to try to extend this series and get back to Philadelphia. So tomorrow there’s going to be a battle of wills and we’ll see what happens,” New York outfielder Brandon Nimmo said.
After reaching the 2022 World Series and the seventh game of the National League Championship Series, the Phillies, champions of the Eastern Division, are on the verge of an early elimination in the playoffs at the hands of the Mets, one of their biggest rivals.
“I know it came out that I had spoken to the team,” manager Rob Thomson said. “Basically, the message was very simple: ‘You guys are coming here tomorrow.'” I also told them that they are the most resilient club I have ever been a part of. That’s what they are made of, toughness, fight and unity. That’s what we need. “We just have to concentrate on a game.”
Manaea was relieved after allowing a single in the first inning of the eighth inning. The tall left-hander, who became New York’s ace during the second half of this campaign, received congratulatory pats from his teammates in the dugout.
He brought the glove to his mouth, to kiss it, and looked up at the sky.
“That was for my Aunt Mabel. I had just received a message informing me that she had died this morning,” Manaea revealed. “So this game was for her.”
As he left the mound, he also received a standing ovation from a good part of the 44,093 fans, who waved towels to cheer on their team.
For the Phillies, Panamanian Edmundo Sosa was 2-1 with one run scored. Dominican Johan Rojas 2-0.
For the Mets, Puerto Rican Francisco Lindor went 1 for 5 with an RBI. Cuban José Iglesias was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. The Dominican Marte is 3-1 with two RBIs. The Venezuelans Luisángel Acuña 1-0, Francisco Alvarez 4-1.
