Mets beat Phillies 6-2

(Philadelphia) Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo were the pillars of another comeback by the New York Mets in their spectacular run since the start of the National League playoffs, contributing to a five-run explosion in the eighth inning against two star relievers , en route to a 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of their sectional series on Saturday.

“It puts pressure on the other clan immediately,” Nimmo analyzed.

Starting ace Zack Wheeler had routed the Mets, who were held to just one hit and trailing 1-0 after seven innings, without creating a single real scoring chance.

After Wheeler, who struck out nine times, was removed from the game, the Mets fell short on relievers Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm in the eighth inning.

Francisco Alvarez led off the inning with a single against Hoffman before three batters reached the bases after charging no balls and two strikes.

Francisco Lindor drew a walk with his count of no balls and two strikes and Vientos followed up with a single to tie the game. Nimmo followed with a run-scoring single against Strahm as the Phillies played with a close infield.

Backup hitter JD Martinez hit a productive single, then Pete Alonso and Starling Marte each added sacrifice flies to make it 5-1 in favor of the Mets and stir up a frenzy in the dugout.

In six games since Monday, the Mets have scored 18 runs in the eighth and ninth innings. As a result, the Mets emulated the 1980 Phillies and 1999 Mets as the only teams to win back-to-back playoff games after trailing in the eighth inning or later.

“One of the things we talked about was finishing the game until the ninth inning,” Vientos said.

“And the game was never over until the ninth inning. It’s a bit with this mentality that we have been moving forward since the last week in Atlanta. Then, the last match in Milwaukee, that’s what we demonstrated and thanks to that, it gives us confidence. »

The Phillies were reeling before Game 2 on Sunday, after wasting their ace’s stellar outing.

For the Phillies, Kyle Schwarber drove Kodai Senga’s third pitch into the second box in right field, bringing the number of home runs he hit as the game’s leadoff hitter to five, a playoff record.

Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos and the Phillies’ other powerful hitters were unable to impose themselves against Senga and four relievers.

Senga was a surprise starter for the Mets after being limited to 5 1/3 innings in the major leagues this season because of shoulder and calf injuries.

In his second start of the year, Senga pitched two innings, threw 31 pitches, struck out three batters and allowed one walk. Schwarber’s homer was the only hit he gave up.

David Peterson kept the Mets in the game by shutting out the Phillies for three innings. Reed Garrett added two perfect innings and he was credited with the victory.

“I don’t know if our bullpen got enough credit in a few of our last few games,” Nimmo said.

“We wouldn’t be in this situation if ‘good old’ Peterson didn’t show up on the mound and do his job. Amazing. He ended the game in Milwaukee and now he comes in and throws a bunch of innings for us. Something we never asked him. He shows up and does the job with perfection. »

Mets players were excited to get a day off Friday after a wild week that included a doubleheader Monday in Atlanta and three games in Milwaukee.

“We really needed it,” manager Carlos Mendoza remarked before the first duel against the Phillies.

“Intense matches, travel, repeated duels, a doubleheader, celebrations and everything we experienced. So to get here and be able to enjoy a day of recovery has been very good for everyone. »

“We have to do the little things, and the big things will happen; moving the runners forward, getting to the trails,” analyzed Phillies manager Rob Thomson.

“We had 9 or 10 runners on the trails. It won’t generate many points. »