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PHILADELPHIA — In a dramatic twist of fate, the New York Mets’ remarkable comeback efforts came to a painful halt on Sunday evening.
On the cusp of victory, following Mark Vientos’ second home run of the night just an inning earlier, the Mets found themselves unable to hold off the Philadelphia Phillies in the crucial final moments of the game, ultimately succumbing to a 7-6 defeat in Game 2 of the NLDS at Citizens Bank Park.
“There will be times when you don’t emerge victorious, but I’m proud of how hard we fought,” stated Brandon Nimmo, reflecting on the game after Tylor Megill allowed a walk-off RBI single to Nick Castellanos.
Post-game, Nick Castellanos reveled in celebration with his Phillies teammates after sealing the win against the Mets on October 6, 2024. This moment marked a pivotal point in the matchup.
As the game turned, it was Megill, brought in during the eighth inning, who faced a challenging moment after Edwin Diaz struggled to secure a save. He walked both Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
After Vientos tied the game with a powerful shot into the left-field stands against lefty Matt Strahm, the tension escalated. Vientos expressed optimism, saying, “It was an incredible game, and I can’t wait to get back to Citi Field.”
Throughout the postseason, the Mets have encountered inconsistencies from closer Edwin Diaz, whose performance fluctuated dramatically. Just last week, he faltered in Atlanta but redeemed himself in a critical save that secured their playoff spot.
However, Sunday night told a different story. After a strong start, Diaz faltered again in the eighth. Following two outs, it was Bryson Stott’s two-run triple off Diaz that shifted the momentum and put the Mets on the back foot.
“I just need to put this behind me and be ready for Tuesday,” Diaz remarked, hinting at his readiness to bounce back.
The Phillies’ comeback began with Harper drawing a walk before Castellanos’ single positioned runners at the corners. Stott’s clutch two-run triple turned the tide, leaving the Mets trailing at 5-4.
Megill took over for Diaz, but a fielding choice by J.T. Realmuto further extended the Phillies’ lead, adding an insurance run.
Manager Carlos Mendoza noted, “Bringing Diaz in during the seventh felt like a game-defining moment, facing their best hitters. We got through some tough spots, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out in our favor today.”
Meanwhile, Luis Severino struggled, granting up three homers in the sixth inning, allowing the Phillies to fight back from a 3-0 deficit. Yet, Nimmo’s solo home run in the seventh briefly restored a Mets lead.
Severino’s outing, spanning six innings, resulted in three earned runs from six hits, striking out seven batters. It mirrored a prior outing earlier in the postseason as he also allowed three earned runs in six frames.
Vientos’ earlier two-run homer off Cristopher Sanchez marked the game’s initial scoring, with Francisco Lindor contributing a key single in that same third inning when Vientos used the opposite field to clear the fence.
Alonso’s sixth-inning homer against Jose Ruiz, his second in just three games, further highlighted the Mets’ offensive efforts.
Severino faced a fierce comeback in the sixth, with Harper launching a towering two-run homer, followed by Castellanos’ significant home run tying the game ‍at 3-3.
In the aftermath, Severino reflected, “Taking one out of two on the road feels like a success, and we’re eager to return home where our fans will bring the energy we need to secure our next victories.”
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