Oct 5, 2024; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) celebrates with Bryce Harper (3) after hitting a solo house run in opposition to the New York Mets within the first inning in recreation one of many NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Residents Financial institution Park. Necessary Credit score: Invoice Streicher-Imagn Photos PHILADELPHIA — Blanked for seven innings by Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler, the New York Mets erupted for six runs in opposition to the Phillies’ bullpen within the ultimate two innings Saturday to earn a 6-2 victory in Sport 1 of a Nationwide League Division Collection.
Brandon Nimmo’s RBI single off Matt Strahm snapped a 1-1 tie within the eighth, after Mark Vientos delivered the tying run with a run-scoring single of his personal. Pete Alonso, J.D. Martinez and Starling Marte additionally drove in runs within the inning for the Mets, who got here from behind within the late innings for the third time in six days.
Nimmo, who went 2-for-4 within the recreation, delivered one other run with a single within the ninth off Tanner Banks.
Kyle Schwarber homered main off the underside of the primary for the Phillies. Schwarber went 2-for-4, however the Phils solely managed three different hits in opposition to 5 Mets pitchers. The final was a pinch-hit RBI double by Kody Clemens within the ninth.
Wheeler allowed a single hit over seven innings earlier than giving option to Jeff Hoffman to start out the eighth. Francisco Alvarez opened the inning with a single, and Francisco Lindor walked after falling behind within the depend 0-2.
Vientos then lined Hoffman’s 1-2 slider into left area to attain pinch runner Harrison Bader. Strahm relieved Hoffman, however Nimmo’s single on an 0-2 pitch introduced Lindor house. Alonso’s sacrifice fly, additionally on an 0-2 pitch, made it 3-1.
Jose Iglesias adopted with a single, once more on an 0-2 providing, and Martinez, batting for Jesse Winker, singled to ship Nimmo. Marte’s sacrifice fly pushed the Mets’ result in 5-1.
New York had certified for the postseason by beating Atlanta in Sport 1 of a double-header Monday, on Lindor’s two-run ninth-inning homer. The Mets gained their wild-card collection over Milwaukee by scoring 4 instances within the ninth inning of Sport 3 on Thursday, the primary three of these runs on Alonso’s homer off Brewers nearer Devin Williams.
On Saturday Wheeler surrendered solely Vientos’ leadoff single within the fourth throughout his seven innings on the mound. He struck out 9, walked 4 and hit a batter.
The Mets had only one runner in scoring place in opposition to him, when Nimmo adopted Vientos’ hit with a stroll. Wheeler escaped the jam by hanging out Alonso and inducing Iglesias to floor right into a double play.
Schwarber, main off the underside of the primary, launched a 1-1 fastball from Mets starter Kodai Senga into the fitting area stands. It was Schwarber’s twelfth postseason homer in three years with Philadelphia, 4 of which have come main off the primary inning. It was additionally the fifth such homer of his profession.
Senga was making simply his second look in a season interrupted by shoulder and calf accidents. An All-Star in 2023, his solely earlier outing got here in a July 26 victory over Atlanta.
He departed after two innings Saturday, the one hit he allowed having been Schwarber’s homer. He struck out three and walked one.
Reid Garrett labored two scoreless innings in aid to earn the victory for New York. Hoffman took the loss.
–Gordie Jones, Discipline Stage Media