Mets Magic Continues As They're Making A Habit Of Late Rallies

 

Francisco Alvarez connecting on a hit in the eighth inning. @Mets.

The Mets' magical week continued on Saturday evening, as they staged another late rally to stun the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-2, in Game 1 of the NLDS.

The week began on Monday afternoon when the Mets scored six runs in the eighth after the Braves pulled starting Spencer Schwellenbach, who had cruised through seven shutout innings, to eventually win, 8-7, and clinch a playoff spot.

Then, in the third game of the Wild Card Series, Milwaukee Brewers starter Tobias Meyers shut the Mets out for five innings, and they led 2-0 into the ninth, when Pete Alonso blasted a game-winning three-run home run.

On Saturday, the Phillies got seven shutout innings from Zack Wheeler, who scattered just one hit and four walks, while striking out nine.

The Phillies were only able to get one run, on a leadoff homer from Kyle Schwarber in the first inning off Mets starter Kodai Senga, who was making just his second start of the season.

Senga, who was on a tight pitch count went two innings, allowed just that one run, one hit, one walk, and struck out three.

David Peterson then came in and notched three shutout innings, in which he worked around a single and three walks, with a strikeout, and Reed Garrett threw two shutout innings to get them through the seventh.

Philadelphia turned to Jeff Hoffman for the eighth, and Francisco Alvarez greeted him by lining one to center field for a single. Harrison Bader went in to run for the Mets catcher.

Then, Francisco Lindor worked out a walk, and just like that, the Mets were set up.

Mark Vientos then laced one down the left field line to bring home Bader and tie the game at 1.

That was all for Hoffman after his required three hitters faced, and left-hander Matt Strahm came on to face Brandon Nimmo.

Nimmo lined one the other way to left field to bring in Lindor and put the Mets ahead, 2-1.

Pete Alonso then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in Vientos. 

Jose Iglesias singled, and that knocked Strahm out of the game.

With Orion Kerkering on for the Phillies, J.D. Martinez came on to pinch-hit for Jesse Winker, and he bopped a single to center to bring in Nimmo and make it 4-1 Mets.

Starling Marte followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in Iglesias and cap the five-run inning.

Phil Maton came on for the eighth for the Mets, and he struck out Schwarber and Trea Turner to open the frame before Bryce Harper doubled and Nick Castellanos singled. 

Maton was able to get Alec Bohm to bounced into a force out to end the frame.

In the ninth, with Tanner Banks in for Philadelphia, Bader, in his first at-bat singled, stole second, and raced around to score on a Nimmo single to make it 6-1 Mets.

Ryne Stanek came on to close it out for the Mets, and Kody Clemens (son of Roger) got an RBI single with two outs. Yes, Philadelphia's first run came from their leadoff hitter and their second came when they were down to their last out.

To add even more irony to it, Schwarber then flew out to right field to end the game, and the Mets were up 1-0 in the Best of Five series.

NEXT UP: Game 2 is on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., and the Mets finally return to Citi Field - for their first game since September 22 - for Game 3 on Tuesday evening at 5:00 p.m.