Brandon Nimmo gave the Mets the lead with a solo homer and Edwin Diaz came on for a six-out save, lifting the Mets to a 2-1 win over the Phillies Sunday night at Citi Field. The victory gave the Mets the series win and upped their record against the Phillies to 6-7, while cutting Philadelphia’s lead to five games.
Tylor Megill had a rough first inning and he gave the Phillies an early 1-0 lead. But the Mets tied it in the second, thanks to an RBI single from Tyrone Taylor. Megill pitched better after the first inning but was yanked after four frames.
The bullpen gave the Mets five scoreless innings, which allowed Nimmo the chance to shine. He hit his 22nd HR of the year in the sixth inning – his third homer in his last five games. It was his 87th RBI of the season.
Meanwhile, Phil Maton relieved Megill in the fifth inning, gave two scoreless innings and picked up the win. Jose Butto struck out two in the seventh. With the top of the order due up for the Phillies, Carlos Mendoza opted to go two innings with Diaz, even though he pitched Saturday and this would be his third outing in four days.
Diaz stranded a runner on third base in both the eighth and ninth innings, with both runners getting that far thanks to stolen bases. The one in the ninth was particularly fortunate, as the throw from the catcher hit the base and did not go into the outfield.
The Phillies wound up with two runners in scoring position in the ninth inning, but Diaz got a strikeout to end the game and pick up his 20th save of the year.
Pete Alonso, playing in potentially his last game at Citi Field as a Met, went 0-4 with three strikeouts.
The Mets put up their ninth straight Sunday with two runs or fewer. Yet the only thing that matters is that they got the win. Their record now sits at 87-69 with six road games to finish out the season. After an off day on Monday, they’ll open up a three-game set with the Braves on Tuesday at 7:20 p.m.
Yes, the win is the thing! Diaz not caring about base runners and Alvarez just throwing without Vientos being there is not anything pretty but, it’s a win.
Had no problem with Megill being removed. Had no problem with the bad sacrifice and the strike-em out, throw-em out double play, but with Alvarez not being able to shift for sliders in the dirt, I wasn’t happy about the thievery.
Onto Atlanta, against whom Miami had the bases loaded down a run and couldn’t score. As the Padres are playing at division foe Los Angeles Losers and DBacks are hosting the Confortos after blowing an eight run lead in Milwaukee.
Shout out to the Tigers that sold at the deadline and have come all the way back to now hold the second wildcard in the American League after the Twinkees lost two games in Boston today.
Gut Reaction: the pitching staff bested Wheeler this game. Megill has a 1.80 ERA in September. Taylor has 1.009 OPS in September. Diaz has a gutsy performance and he left it all on the field this weekend. Mendoza keeps doing the right moves.
If they can win the next series at Atlanta then they can clinch the playoff berth because they will take the season series ,7-6, which is the tie breaker. The Mets will have guaranteed 89 wins. The best that the Braves can do is 89 wins. It would be so nice to celebrate in the Braves home !
P. S.: I was thinking earlier as the game was on the radio, Wheeler showed the Mets what he can be in his walk year and the Mets didn’t buy it. Now they are regretting. Is Alonso showing us this year what he can be and should we be buying it?
Harper 29-86-82 HR-RBI-RUNS
Alonso 34-88-90 HR-RBI-RUNS
Bryce Harper’s OPS is .892 with a war of 4.4
Pete Alonso’s OP is .803 with a war of 2.7
Why aren’t Phillies fan moaning and growling about Harper like Mets fan do about Alonso? Will Alonso be back? Hope so.
And we have all been clamoring for Taylor to replace Pinky and it was good move today. Pitching was nearly lights out giving up just the one run and Nimmo saved the day. Why Mendoza had Acuna bunt was probably a shocker to Acuna, but truth be told, for someone with only one sac bunt, he at least got the ball down even if they did get the force. You got to let the kid swing the bat.
A series win in Atlanta and we clinch a playoff spot and knock the Braves out. What could be sweeter than that?
If there is a god the LuisAngel Acuna will be the reason the Mets clinch the playoffs in Atlanta.