In the thrilling Game 4 of the National League Divisional Series Francisco Lindor's grand slam in the sixth inning was the decisive moment, securing a 4-1 victory for the New York Mets over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Lindor's Grand Slam in the Sixth Inning
This crucial home run propelled the Mets into the National League Championship Series (NLCS), where they will continue their quest for a World Series title. Lindor's grand slam, which came after a 99 mph pitch from Phillies closer Carlos Estevez, landed in the Philadelphia bullpen, giving the Mets a decisive 4-1 lead.
Estevez later admitted that he mislocated the pitch, a costly mistake in a high-pressure situation.
The Mets' 3-1 win in the best-of-five series marked their first home postseason series victory in 24 years since the 2000 NLCS at Shea Stadium. The emotions of the victory were evident when Lindor tearfully shared an emotional moment on the field with outfielder Brandon Nimmo.
The celebration continued in the locker room, where the team enjoyed its first champagne celebration in the 16-season history of Citi Field.
Brandon Nimmo, reflecting on the victory, expressed his joy and talked about how long he had dreamed of this moment. For the Mets, it was a long awaited victory, which they felt was well deserved for their loyal fans.
As the team looks ahead to the NLCS, where they will face either the San Diego Padres or the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are tied 2-2 in their NLDS, they have their sights set on an even bigger prize.
Mets slugger Pete Alonso reflected this sentiment in his post-game remarks, expressing pride in the team's resilience throughout the season and urging fans to keep the momentum going.
The Road to the Championship Series
Aiming for their third World Series title and first since 1986, the Mets have shown remarkable determination heading into the postseason. Team owner Steve Cohen, who has been outspoken about his desire to change the narrative surrounding the Mets, praised the team's progress and noted that they are on track to achieve that goal.
The victory over the Phillies, who won 95 games in the regular season and finished six games ahead of the Mets, was particularly sweet for New York as the Phillies faced a disappointing early elimination. Phillies manager Rob Thomson acknowledged the bitterness of the loss, admitting that his team was outplayed in the short series.
Despite the eventual victory, the Mets had missed opportunities early in the game. They left the bases loaded in the first two innings and stranded eight runners in the first five innings before finally scoring in the sixth.
Lindor's grand slam was the turning point, capping a season full of decisive performances by the Mets' star shortstop.
This grand slam added another impressive chapter to Lindor's playoff history, making him one of only three players, along with Shane Victorino and Hall of Famer Jim Thome, to connect for two grand slams in postseason history.
Lindor's first grand slam occurred in 2017, when he was playing for Cleveland, in a game at Yankee Stadium. The only other Mets player to hit a postseason grand slam was Edgardo Alfonzo in 1999.
Fan MVP
Mets rookie manager Carlos Mendoza praised Lindor for his performance, noting how the shortstop managed to control his emotions and respond at a key moment. Mendoza suggested that fans could write a book or make a movie about Lindor's remarkable season.
The fans at Citi Field agreed, chanting "MVP! MVP!" as Lindor rounded the bases after his grand slam and again when he took his position on defense in the seventh inning.
Lindor's contributions to the Mets this season have been invaluable, and despite a season-ending back injury that kept him out since September 8, he returned in Game 3 of the NLDS and made an immediate impact.
Throughout the year, Lindor notched several key hits, including a game-tying home run on September 11 in Toronto, which snapped a no-hit game, and a game-tying home run on September 30 in Atlanta, clinching the Mets' ticket to the playoffs.
His ability to perform at crucial moments has not gone unnoticed, and Steve Cohen noted Lindor's consistency in showing up when needed most. In the Wild Card Series, Lindor fought back from a 1-2 count to get an eight-pitch base on balls against All-Star closer Devin Williams, setting up Pete Alonso's season-saving home run for the Mets.
Reflecting on the Mets' journey, Lindor acknowledged the challenges they faced during the season, but emphasized that he wouldn't have it any other way. His focus, as well as that of the rest of the team, remains on the ultimate goal of winning the World Series.
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Pitching Was Crucial
Strong pitching has also played a key role in the Mets' success. In Game 4, starter Jose Quintana pitched more than five innings without allowing any earned runs, giving up only two hits. David Peterson followed with 2 1/3 shutout innings, picking up the win, while Edwin Diaz secured his first postseason save despite some early struggles.
The Phillies managed to score their only run due to an error by Mets third baseman Mark Vientos in the fourth inning, but struggled to generate offense throughout the series.
The Phillies bullpen, which had been a strength all season, faltered in the series against the Mets. Jeff Hoffman suffered his second loss of the series, and Rob Thomson noted that poor execution and the familiarity of Mets hitters with Phillies pitchers were key factors in their problems.
The Mets, meanwhile, are preparing for a tough challenge in the upcoming NLCS. They had success against the Padres during the regular season, with a 5-2 record, but struggled against the Dodgers, finishing 2-4.
With their momentum growing and their confidence high, the Mets are determined to make the most of their opportunity as they chase their first World Series title in nearly four decades.
