QUEENS, NY: On Wednesday night, the National League Division Series between the Mets and the Phillies came to a conclusion at the meeting point of excitement and fear.
The New York Mets provided the excitement, following months of inspiration from their infielder who makes you want to say “OMG”. This Mets team continues to put on an exciting run through the playoffs and pennant pursuit.
The NL East champions, the Philadelphia Phillies, who lost terribly to their division opponents in this NLDS despite winning 95 games, were the source of the fear. It was Francisco Lindor's single stroke that ended their suffering, giving the Mets a 4-1 lead, ultimately ending the series.
The Phillies closer Carlos Estevez, whose presence that early in the game demonstrated his team's desperation, gave Lindor his blast with one out in the sixth. Set-up man Jeff Hoffman started Philly's calamity by throwing two wild pitches, hitting a batter, walking another, and giving up a single.
This prompted Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson to call up Estevez. Before Lindor smashed a fastball at 99 mph into the right field bleachers, completing a trio of spectacular late-inning Mets longballs that brought them here, he recorded one bases-loaded out.
For the first time since 2015, the Mets have advanced to the NL Championship Series, where they will face the victor of the San Diego Padres-Los Angeles Dodgers series. The Mets 2024 magical season lives on another series.
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