The underdog Mets have done it again as they took game five of the NLDS against the Phillies and moved on to the Conference Series. This marks the first time that the Mets have clinched a playoff series at home in Citi Field, and their first NLCS appearance since 2015.
The game was a low-scoring affair, with just one run scored up until the sixth inning. A single, hit by pitch, and walk, loaded the bases for New York’s lead-off hitter Francisco Lindor. Lindor, who has been the driving force in this postseason run, came up big again. He took a Carlos Estévez fastball to deep right field, a grand slam that gave the Mets a 4-1 lead.
New York was able to hold onto this lead and give Edwin Díaz to close things out. He did just that, striking out Phillies’ power hitter Kyle Schwarber, sealing the victory.
After the game reporters flocked to Lindor asking about his clutch performance. He told them he is focused on a championship saying, “I want to win it all. And ours will be a team that will forever be remembered…This will be a team that comes every 10 years and eats for free everywhere they go. And I want to do that. I want to do that. But the job is not done.”
The Mets will have to wait for free dinners and to find out who their next opponent is. The Padres will take on the Dodgers in game five of their series on Friday, with the winner hosting the Mets in game one on Sunday.
