(2024) NLDS Game #3: Sean Manaea Pitches Mets to 2-1 Series Lead As the Hits Keep Coming

Tuesday October 8th, 2024: The Mets had not played a home game at Citi Field since they took three of four from the Phillies, to stay alive (at that time) in the wild card race. 

It was 16 days ago, since then they had some exciting wins on the road, clinched a wild card spot, won the NLWC series & split the first two games of the NLDS in Philadelphia.

44,093 came out to see This afternoon's game, the first playoff game played at Citi Field since the 2016 NLWC game. Carlos Mendoza sent out his top regular season pitcher, Sean Manaea (12-6 / 3.47 ERA / 184 Ks). 

In his last start in the NLWC series he gave up two runs, a HR & six hits over five innings in Milwaukee. In his post season career, Manaea made three starts over three post seasons with Oakland & San Diego, he had given up 13 runs in 7.2 innings.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson sent Aaron Nola (14-8 / 3.57 ERA / 197 Ks) to the mound. During the regular season, he was 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA in two starts.

Former Met Keith Hernandez #17 threw out the ceremonial first pitch to former Met John Franco, then Chloe Lowrey sang the National Anthem & the electrified crowd went wild for the next three hours.

Sean Manaea started out the game, retiring the side in order in the 1st inning with a couple of hard-hit balls. Francisco Lindor made a fine play to his left side to end the inning. Over the next two innings, he hit two batters & gave up a single in the top of the 3rd but nothing came of any of it as he quickly shut down the Phillies. 

Manaea put in the best post season performance of his career, in a pitching performance for the ages, he went into the 8th inning, pitching seven complete innings, getting charged with one run, on just three hits. He struck out six & walked two, leaving the mound to a standing ovation from the Citi Field Faithful.

Quotes- Sean Manaea: "It's just an amazing honor. These fans have been so amazing all year. To go out there & pitch like that against the Phillies, unbelievable experience."

In the top of the 4th, Alec Bohm blasted a shot to the right field wall, Tyrone Taylor bare handed the ball & threw out Bohm trying to get to second base.

In the top of the 6th, Manaea issued two of his three walks of the game. With no one out he struck out Bryce Harper, then Nick Castellanos lined a shot to Jose Iglesias who threw to Francisco Lindor for an exciting inning ending double play.

In the bottom of the 2nd, the Polar Bear Pete Alonso started the scoring with his third HR in the last four post season games. All three were opposite field shots to right, of his 34 HRs during the regular season, just four were hit to the opposite field. 

Trivia: In his career Alonso has six HRs with 15 RBIs & a 1.117 OPS against Aaron Nola.

Quotes- Pete Alonso: The amount of resiliency that this team has is just truly incredible. And now in the post season to be doing what we're doing as a group, it's really special.

In the 4th Jesse Winker blasted a long HR to the right field upper deck, as he came round home plate he waved to the fans. Once as a visiting player he'd wave to them to antagonize them & they jeered him. Now he waved to acknowledge them & they cheered him. 

Quotes- Jesse Winker: It means a lot, it's what you dream about as a kid. And you just want to
help anyway you can. Such a great clubhouse, such a great city".

In the bottom of the 6th, Mark Vientos led with a base hit. Nola then walked Brandon Nimmo & Pete Alonso. Orion Kerkering came in & got Jose Iglesias to ground into a force play, that Edmundo Sosa bobbled but recovered to throw out Vientos at home. Jesse Winker then flew out. 

But with two outs, Starling Marte lined s two run single to center giving the Mets a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the 7th, with two outs Mark Vientos lined a shot off the foot of new pitcher Jose Alvarado. Vientos reached safely, collecting his second hit of the game. It was his third straight multi-hit game & fourth of the post season. In the first three games of the NLDS he has collected seven hits. 

Harrison Bader came in to run for Vientos.

The wheels came off for Alvarado as he walked Nimmo & Alonso. Both players collected their second base on balls of the game. With the bases loaded the ever-dependable Jose Iglesias came thru once again, singling to center to drive in Bader & Nimmo making it 6-0. 

In the top of the 8th after issuing a leadoff single, Carlos Mendoza removed Sean Manaea as he left
tipping his hat to a standing ovation. 

Phil Maton issued a walk & an RBI single to Bryce Harper. Ryan Stanek came on to relieve Maton, he gave up a base hit to Kyle Schwarber & then got Alec Bohm to fly out to centerfield.

In the bottom of the 8th, pinch hitter J.D. Martinez drew a walk. Tyrone Taylor then reached on an error from pitcher Carlos Estevez. Then with two outs, Francisco Lindor collected his first NLDS RBI with a shot to right field scoring J.D. finishing off the Mets scoring.

Ryne Stanek came back for the 9th inning & finished off the Phillies, ending the game striking out Cody Clemens. The Mets won the game 7-2 taking two games to one lead/ A win at Citi Field tomorrow would send them to the NLCS.

Quotes- Jose Iglesias: "Every game is important. Tonight's game was very important. Tomorrow's game is going to be even more important. Every game matters. Most definitely we're going to go up there with the same energy & try to compete & try to win every inning."