Wednesday night the New York Mets kept the good vibes going with a 4-1 series clinching win against the Phillies. Like most games for the Mets this postseason, Wednesday was not lacking in dramatics.
On the mound for New York was Jose Quintana who arguably pitched his best game of the season. Quintana pitched through five innings, allowing only two hits and no earned runs. The only run allowed came during the fourth inning when a fielding error by Mark Vientos brought Bryce Harper home.
Once again for the Mets, they were matched up against strong starting pitching. On the bump for the Phillies was Ranger Suarez who pitched a little more than four innings. In his outing he allowed five hits and no runs, setting up an all too familiar scene for New York.
Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Mets were looking for heroics once again. New York managed to get their first three batters of the inning on base. With a chance to get some runs on the board, who else but Fransico Lindor comes up to the plate. In possibly the biggest at bat of his career, he smashes one to center field for his second career postseason grand slam. If there was ever a time to use the phrase Linsanity, it’s this one right here.
The bullpen for the Mets locked the rest of the game down, pitching four innings and allowing only two hits. The trumpets sounded as pitcher Edwin Diaz came in to seal the game, striking out two of the five hitters he faced.
Wednesday’s win was the first time New York has clinched a series in Citi Field and the first time in nine years that the Mets are heading to the NLCS.
New York awaits the winner of the Padres and Dodgers series, with Game 1 taking place Sunday night.
