In an electrifying matchup, the New York Mets made a stunning comeback against the Philadelphia Phillies, winning 6-2 in the first game of the divisional series. This marks the Mets’ return to the postseason after nine years, as they managed to shake off a dismal start where they recorded just one hit in the first seven innings.
Back in 2015, the Mets clinched the National League Championship, but they faced early playoff exits in 2016 and 2022. So, their journey in the divisional series feels especially significant, especially as they faced off against Phillies ace Zack Wheeler. The Mets struggled to score and appeared overmatched early on.
The game took a dramatic turn in the eighth inning. Kyle Schwarber got the Phillies on the board with a towering home run in the first, hitting a 425-foot shot to right-center off Mets starter Kodai Senga. It was an energetic start for the home crowd.
Wheeler dominated for the first seven innings, throwing 111 pitches, allowing only one hit while walking four and striking out nine, leaving the game as a potential winning pitcher. However, the Phillies’ bullpen encountered disaster in the eighth inning. Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm, and Orion Kerkering failed to contain the Mets’ offense, leading to a barrage of hits.
The Mets exploded for five runs in the eighth inning, punctuated by five hits, a walk, and two sacrifice flies. Key contributions came from Mark Vientos, whose timely hit tied the game, and Brandon Nimmo, who added the go-ahead hit. The ninth inning saw each team score once, but the Phillies couldn’t mount a comeback in front of a packed crowd of 45,751 fans.
Regarding Senga, who missed most of the season due to injury, he had only one previous start back on July 27 against the Braves, where he performed well. Today was his playoff debut, and he finished after two innings with 31 pitches, allowing one hit and one walk while recording three strikeouts, with Schwarber’s home run being his only blemish.
As the Mets celebrate this crucial win, the anticipation for the rest of the series mounts. What adjustments do you think both teams will need to make moving forward?
