(2024) NLDS Game #1: Mets Five Run 8th Inning Leads to Game One Win in Philadelphia

Saturday, October 5th, 2024: Carlos Mendoza's Mets fresh off an exciting NLWC Series win two days earlier, faced off against their long-time divisional rival, Philadelphia Phillies. 

Trivia: Since the Mets entered the league in 1962, they played 1,081 regular season games against the Phillies but the two had never met in a post season game.

Rob Thomson's Phillies (95-67) were the 2024 NL East champs, with the Mets (89-73) finishing second in a tie with the Braves. In 13 regular season meetings, the Mets were 6-7 against the Phillies. In September they won four of seven, winning two of three at Citi Field on the final home stand.

45,751 fans filled up Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia: to see their ace (former Met) Zack Wheeler (16-7 / 2.57 ERA / 224 Ks) take the mound in the home opener. 

In 2024-Wheeler was one of the league's best, as he was second in the NL in wins, ERA & strike outs during the regular season.

The Mets, in a surprise move, sent Kodi Senga to make the start. It was just his second start of the year, the last being July 26th. Senga began the year on the IL with a shoulder capsule injury then in that one start injured his calf, setting him down the rest of the season. 

Trivia: It was Senga's first post season start in the USA, but he had pitched in five Nippon Japan Series' winning three championships in his native country. He was healthy, excited & ready to go.

In the bottom of the 1st, three pitches in Kyle Schwaber led off the game with a HR giving the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Schwarber set a record with 15 lead-off HRs on the season & has 22 career post season HRs.

But that would be it for the Phillies offense until the 9th inning. Senga retired the side in order in the 2nd inning. He would only be limited to pitch two innings, the HR was the only hit he allowed, as he walked one & struck out three. 

David Peterson then came on, fresh off his NLWC series save in the series clincher on Thursday & put in another fine relief performance. Peterson put in three shutout innings, giving up a hit with a strike out, as he did walk three.

In the 2024 post season he has pitched four scoreless innings allowing two hits, three walks & struck out two with one save.

In the bottom of the 3rd, with two on, Peterson got Nick Castellanos to fly out to Starling Marte in right. Peterson had the Phillies strand a runner over the next two innings as well. 

After Peterson, Reed Garret put in two shutout innings of his own, not allowing a hit or issuing a
walk. Keeping the Mets in the game, just one run down, which is all this cast of teammates needs. Garrett would be the winning pitcher of record; he has now pitched three scoreless innings in two post season games.

Zach Wheeler was nothing but outstanding, baffling the Mets thru seven innings, shutting them out on just one hit, setting them down with nine strike outs. If there was one weakness, he walked four which made him throw 111 pitches. Although Rob Thomson kept him in seven innings, he went to the bullpen in the 8th.

It's just what the Mets needed, no matter who was coming in as long Wheeler was gone. The comeback kids went to the bat racks, anxious, confident & ready to go to work. If anyone took notice, the Mets were still loose, as Mark Vientos & Francisco Lindor were seen with smiles on their faces in between innings.

The Phillies Jeff Hoffman took the mound & Francisco Alvarez led off with a base hit. Harrison Bader was brought in to run. Francisco Lindor was down 0-2 then fought back to draw a walk. Then Mark Vientos came through with a base hit to right field tying up the game at one as Bader scored. The Mets broke through, & here came the "comeback kids" as their hit machine began. 

Mets Trivia: Vientos is the first player in franchise history to drive in seven runs thru his first five post seasons.

Brandon Nimmo singled to left field bringing in Lindor with the go ahead run 2-1. Pete Alonso
who had struck out three times in the game, hit a sac fly bringing in Vientos with the Mets third run 3-1. Jose Iglesias put in another fine at bat, fouling off pitch after pitch, before singling into center field.

With two on, Orion Kerkering came in to pitch for the Phils. He was greeted by pinch hitter J.D. Martinez who singled up the middle bringing in Nimmo with the Mets fourth run. 

Quotes- J.D. Martinez: "This is the craziest team I've been on. We laugh about it; we make fun of each other & we're like this is a zoo. Because we just never know what's going to happen."

Starling Marte capped off the Mets five run inning with a sac fly scoring Iglesias. Citizens Bank Park got very quiet, except for the Mets fans that made the trip south.

In the inning the Mets sent nine men to the plate, scored five runs on five hits with two sac flies & a walk.

Quotes- Jose Iglesias: "When you compete, it's just a matter of time".

Mets Trivia: In four post season games this week, the Mets scored four runs or more three times. It was also the first time in franchise history that they scored five or more runs in an inning, twice in a post season.

Carlos Mendoza brought in Phil Maton for the 8th inning, he struck out Schwarber & Trea Turner to start the inning. After giving up hits to Bryce Harper & Nick Castellanos, Alec Bohm grounded out to end the inning.

In the top of the 9th, the Mets tacked on a run, as Harrison Bader singled, then with two outs Brandon Nimmo singled to right field after the ball was deflected off second baseman Bryson Scott. Bader scored as the Mets went up 6-1.

In the 9th, Carlos Mendoza went with Ryne Stanek, instead of Edwin Diaz with the five-run lead. Stanek struck out Bryson Scott, then walked JT Realmuto. Brandon Marsh flew out for the second out, then Kody Clemens doubled for the Phillies first run since the 1st inning, three hours earlier.

But that was it, as Kyle Schwarber flew out to Tyrone Taylor to end the inning. The Mets came
back to shock the Phillies & take Game #1 in their own ballpark.

Quotes- Carlos Mendoza: "This is something that we've done, throughout the year, when we're going, when we're clicking as a team offensively these are some of the things that we do. We put the ball in play, we use the whole field & we're not thinking too big. And we did it today again, situational hitting was really good, couple of sac flies & that's not easy to do when you're facing those types of arms."

Mets Trivia: The Mets became just the third team in post season history to win back-to-back
playoff games after trailing in the 8th inning or later. The 1999 Mets also did it.

Mets Trivia: On the last day of the regular season, the Mets were 3-24 before putting up eight runs in the final two innings in Atlanta to clinch a playoff spot. In the NLWC Game #3 they were 2-26 before Pete Alonso's 8th inning three run HR. 

On this day they were 1-21 before scoring six runs in the last two innings.