By Jen McCaffrey,​ Matt Gelb,⁣ Tim Britton, and Will Sammon

Thrilling Walk-Off Victory for the Phillies

In a nail-biting showdown, Nick Castellanos​ hit a single to left field in the bottom of the ninth inning, securing the Philadelphia Phillies’ dramatic 7-6 walk-off​ victory against the New York Mets ⁢on Sunday night. This exhilarating win ties the National League Division Series at one game apiece, ⁣with⁣ both teams set⁣ to face off in Game 3 ‌in New York on Tuesday.

Back-and-Forth Battle

The⁤ game featured five lead⁤ changes, showcasing both teams’ tenacity. The Phillies, who boasted the top home record‌ in Major League Baseball this⁢ season, successfully avoided going ⁣down two games at their home ground, Citizens Bank Park.

The⁢ Mets showcased their power-hitting abilities, including a​ critical two-run home⁣ run ⁤by Mark Vientos in the ninth​ inning that momentarily tied the game, pushing⁣ the tension to an all-time high before Castellanos’ winning hit. Vientos initially got⁤ the Mets on⁤ the ‍scoreboard in the⁢ second with a two-run blast.

Offensive Explosion from the Phillies

Pete Alonso⁣ extended ⁢New York’s lead with a solo homer in the sixth, making the score 3-0. However, the Phillies’ offense ignited in​ the bottom of that inning. Within a rapid‌ series of pitches, Bryce Harper sent a two-run ⁢homer over the fence, followed‌ by ‌Castellanos‍ hitting a solo shot off Mets starter ‌Luis Severino, leveling the ⁣score at 3-3.

Severino had been dominant ⁢for five innings but faltered when delivering a fastball to Harper, which was ​met with a‍ thunderous response. Amid‌ a roaring crowd, the Braves briefly ⁢soared⁤ ahead when Brandon Nimmo answered with⁢ a solo homer in the seventh,⁤ bringing the ‌Mets to a 4-3 advantage.

In response,‌ Bryson Stott ​electrified the fans ‍with a two-run ‍triple in the eighth, allowing the Phillies⁢ to reclaim a 6-4 lead after Vientos committed a fielding error on​ a ground ball. Yet, Vientos quickly redeemed himself by hitting another clutch two-run homer in the top of the ninth, knotting the⁢ game ⁤once‌ more.

Mets’ ⁣Bullpen Challenges

Despite an impressive closing effort in Game 1, the‌ Mets’ bullpen faltered in⁤ this crucial match. Entrusted with a one-run lead in the ‍seventh, Jose ⁤Buttó ‌and closer Edwin Díaz were expected to secure​ three outs ‌between them. Unfortunately, both pitchers ⁤struggled, with Díaz yielding three runs in⁣ the eighth inning,‍ turning ⁣the game in favor of Philadelphia.

While Vientos’ tying homer gave the Mets a glimmer​ of hope, ‌relief​ pitcher‍ Tylor Megill ultimately​ enabled Castellanos’ ⁤walk-off single after⁢ walking ‍two batters ​to set up the decisive moment.

One Pivotal Swing

In the sixth inning,​ Mets ⁤catcher Francisco Alvarez challenged Severino with Harper​ at the plate. At a critical 2-2 count and with Severino maintaining ⁢control throughout the game, he attempted to overpower Harper ‍with a ​99 mph fastball. However, the pitch missed its mark, and Harper ⁢took full advantage, sending the ball crashing into the batter’s eye in center field, reigniting⁢ the Phillies’ ⁤hopes.

Before this moment, the⁣ Phillies struggled significantly, often swinging​ at pitches outside their⁣ zone. ⁤Severino had effectively⁤ limited ⁢their offensive output,⁣ sticking‍ mostly to his fastball. However, Harper’s might at the plate‍ sparked⁤ a transformation,⁢ and Castellanos quickly followed suit with a game-tying home run.

Mets ‍Showcase Power Hitting

Indeed, the​ Mets had their moments of power during the game. They ⁢came into playoffs with a variety of ways to score, but this⁤ matchup marked the first time they hit ⁣multiple⁤ home runs in a ⁣postseason game this year.⁤ Just prior to this contest, Alonso’s memorable home run against the Brewers ‌had been ⁤their sole homer this postseason.

During the regular season, the Mets hit a total ⁢of 207 home runs, ranking sixth in the⁤ league, demonstrating their offensive potential in October, especially when facing high-caliber pitchers.

The trio responsible for the⁤ Mets’ home runs—Vientos, Alonso,‌ and⁣ Nimmo—constitutes a vital ​part of the lineup, and⁤ each played a pivotal role in keeping the Mets competitive throughout​ the match.

Questionable Pitching Decisions

The Phillies entered the series equipped with five reliable relief pitchers. However, against the right-handed-heavy Mets lineup, lefty José Alvarado’s effectiveness diminished.‌ After providing solid innings, manager Rob Thomson opted for José Ruiz in the sixth, a decision that raised ⁢eyebrows​ given Ruiz’s ⁤inconsistent history. This resulted in Alonso hitting a solo homer, deepening the‌ early deficit faced ⁤by ⁤the Phillies.

Despite ‌beginning a lower-leverage reliever⁤ this season and showing⁣ promise in September, Ruiz’s vulnerability‌ was apparent. With ⁤Kerkering already warming up, it might have⁢ been prudent to prioritize‍ him instead. Kerkering⁣ ended up taking over in the seventh, giving up another‍ pivotal home run ⁢to Nimmo, as the Mets continued ‌their offensive onslaught.

Thomson maintained his approach,‍ emphasizing that all playoff games are crucial, regardless of score margins. “In every ‍game in the playoffs, ‌it’s crunch⁢ time,” he stated. “So you just make the right move.”

(Top photo: Hunter Martin / Getty Images)