Mets Phillies NLDS/ Pete Alonso home run/ Sean Manaea shutout/ Mets Game 3 win/ MLB playoffs 2024/ Newslooks/ NEW YORK/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The New York Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2, taking a 2-1 lead in the NLDS. Pete Alonso’s homer and Sean Manaea’s dominant pitching led the Mets, who are now one win from advancing. Game 4 is set for Wednesday with Ranger Suárez starting for the Phillies against Jose Quintana.
Mets’ 7-2 Win Over Phillies – NLDS Game 3 Recap – Quick Looks
- Series Stand: Mets lead Phillies 2-1 in NLDS.
- Key Players: Alonso homers; Manaea dominates, nearly pitching eight shutout innings.
- Highlight Moments: Marte’s two-run single and Winker’s first postseason homer.
- Next Game: Mets face Phillies Wednesday in potential series clincher.
Mets Dominate Phillies 7-2, Lead NLDS 2-1. Alonso & Manaea Shine
Deep Look
The New York Mets gained the upper hand in their National League Division Series, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 on Tuesday night to take a 2-1 lead. Pete Alonso powered the Mets’ offense with a critical second-inning home run off Aaron Nola, while Sean Manaea pitched seven impressive innings, allowing just two hits and taking a shutout into the eighth.
Jesse Winker added a solo homer, and Starling Marte’s clutch two-run single in the sixth stretched New York’s lead, energizing the team as they played their first home game in over two weeks. With this victory, the Mets are just one win away from advancing to the National League Championship Series, where they would face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the San Diego Padres.
Brandon Nimmo, Mets outfielder, expressed the team’s focus: “We’re looking to finish this and be done. They’re looking to extend the series and get back to Philadelphia. So it’s a battle of wills tomorrow, and we’ll see what happens.”
Phillies manager Rob Thomson addressed his team following the loss, emphasizing resilience as they approach Wednesday’s elimination game: “It’s simple: you come in here tomorrow, and remember you’re the toughest, most resilient group I’ve ever seen. Just focus on one game.”
Sean Manaea, the Mets’ late-season ace, received a warm ovation from the crowd of 44,093 fans at Citi Field as he left the mound in the eighth inning. He dedicated the game to his Aunt Mabel, who passed away early Tuesday, saying, “That was for my Aunt Mabel.”
Manaea’s night was also bolstered by a defensive highlight, as outfielder Tyrone Taylor threw out a Phillies runner at second base in the fourth. Manaea finished the game with six strikeouts and two walks, marking his first postseason win after struggling in prior playoff appearances.
“Felt like he wanted this moment,” Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor said of Manaea. “He gave everything he had.”
Manaea’s finest moment came in the sixth inning. Leading 2-0, he allowed back-to-back walks to start the inning but struck out Phillies star Bryce Harper on three pitches, then escaped the inning when Nick Castellanos lined into an inning-ending double play.
Pete Alonso’s home run off Nola, his second in this series, put the Mets on the board in the second inning. Alonso has excelled in the postseason, with three homers over the last four games. Known for pulling home runs, the slugger’s opposite-field shot showed versatility in his game. “Wherever it goes out, if it does, I’m just happy it does,” Alonso said.
Alonso and Nola have a history dating back to their college days in the SEC, and the Mets’ slugger has had success against the Phillies ace. Alonso entered Game 3 with a .320 average and 1.050 OPS over 54 plate appearances against Nola, including five previous home runs.
Later in the sixth, with the bases loaded after a walk to Alonso, Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering replaced Nola. Marte capitalized on the opportunity, sending a two-run single to center that put New York up 4-0. The Mets continued the momentum in the seventh when Nimmo and Alonso drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, setting up Jose Iglesias to drive in two more runs with a single, extending the lead to 6-0.
Harper and Castellanos each managed an RBI single in the eighth to put the Phillies on the board, but Ryne Stanek got Alec Bohm to ground out, quashing Philadelphia’s hopes of a rally. Lindor responded in the bottom of the eighth with a double to make it 7-2.
The Mets had the additional boost of Jesse Winker’s first postseason home run, a soaring solo shot in the fourth inning that delighted the Citi Field crowd. Winker watched his blast sail into the second deck in right field, celebrating his memorable playoff moment.
The Phillies, who reached the World Series in 2022 and pushed the NLCS to Game 7 last season, are now on the brink of an early postseason exit. Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola struggled in his six innings, giving up four runs and facing difficulty against Alonso and the Mets’ persistent lineup. Nola, who had been a steady playoff performer, saw his postseason ERA climb as the Mets capitalized on every opportunity.
In Game 4, the Phillies will turn to left-hander Ranger Suárez, who had a solid record against the Mets this season, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.30 ERA over three games. Suárez and the Phillies remain hopeful that a recent adjustment will bring stability to their pitching staff after his struggles in September. “What happens in September stays in September,” Suárez said. “It’s time to turn the page.”
The Mets will send lefty Jose Quintana to the mound, aiming to close out the series. Quintana threw six scoreless innings in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against Milwaukee, and has maintained a 2.81 ERA over three starts against the Phillies this year.
As Game 4 approaches, the Mets hope to clinch a spot in the NLCS for the first time since 2015, while the Phillies will fight to force a decisive Game 5 back in Philadelphia.
