Pete Alonso hit another homer off Aaron Nola, while Sean Manaea pitched a strong game, allowing just two hits through the eighth inning, leading the New York Mets to a 7-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of their NL Division Series on Tuesday.
Jesse Winker also homered, and Starling Marte contributed a crucial two-run single as the wild-card Mets, playing their first home game in 16 days, took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
Game 4 is set for Wednesday, with All-Star Ranger Suárez starting for Philadelphia against fellow left-hander José Quintana. A win would send New York to the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres.
The Mets have yet to celebrate a series clinch at Citi Field, which opened in 2009.
“It would be amazing to get it done, but we need to focus on ourselves,” Alonso stated.
After reaching the 2022 World Series and Game 7 of last year’s NLCS, the NL East champion Phillies now face a potential early playoff exit at the hands of their rivals, the Mets.
Manager Rob Thomson shared his thoughts with the team, emphasizing their resilience. “Tomorrow, we need to be tough and united. Let’s focus on winning one game,” he said.
Manaea was removed after giving up an infield single to start the eighth. The left-hander, who emerged as New York’s ace in the second half of the season, received enthusiastic pats from teammates and a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 44,093 as he left the mound.
Thanks to a fantastic throw from Tyrone Taylor, Manaea secured his first playoff win after entering with a 0-3 record and a 10.66 ERA in postseason play. He struck out six and walked two.
“He really wanted this moment,” said teammate Francisco Lindor. “He gave it his all.”
Holding a 2-0 lead, Manaea faced a challenge in the sixth. After walking two batters, he had a mound visit and then struck out star hitter Bryce Harper on three off-speed pitches.
“I just went right after him,” Manaea explained.
Nick Castellanos then hit into a double play, with the Mets’ middle infielders catching Kyle Schwarber off second base. An energized Manaea celebrated with a shout as he left the mound.
Alonso launched Nola’s first pitch of the second inning deep into right field, flipping his bat as the ball landed in the second deck. It was Alonso’s second homer of the series and his third in the last four playoff games, all hit to the opposite field—a stark contrast to his regular season, where he only went the other way on four of his 34 homers.
“I’m just glad it went out, no matter where,” Alonso said. “If I’m hitting balls the other way, that’s a good sign.”
Alonso and Nola have a history dating back to their college days, but in the majors, the results have heavily favored Alonso, who hit his sixth career homer off Nola, boasting a .320 average and 1.050 OPS against him.
“He knows me, and I know him. He’s a talented pitcher,” Alonso noted. “It’s a tough at-bat, and I’m happy I could help the team.”
Thomson kept Nola on the mound in the sixth, where Alonso drew a walk after Mark Vientos’ leadoff single. With the bases loaded, Orion Kerkering took over for Nola and got two outs before Marte’s two-run single extended the lead to 4-0.
In the seventh, back-to-back walks to Brandon Nimmo and Alonso loaded the bases again, allowing José Iglesias to hit a two-run single off José Ruiz with two outs.
Harper and Castellanos each recorded an RBI single in the eighth, but Ryne Stanek retired slumping Alec Bohm to end the inning.
Lindor, playing his first home game since September 8 due to a back injury, hit a run-scoring double in the bottom half to make it 7-2.
Winker, filled with excitement, launched a solo shot in the fourth inning, watching his first career postseason homer soar into the second deck in right field.
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