The New York Mets are celebrating in Flushing after a pivotal win that secures their place in the National League Championship Series. Francisco Lindor delivered a decisive grand slam off Phillies closer Carlos Estevez during the bottom of the sixth inning, leading the Mets to a 4-1 victory in Game 4 of their series, witnessed by 44,103 fans at Citi Field on Wednesday night.
With the game tightly contested, Mets closer Edwin Diaz faced the tying run in the ninth inning but managed to finish strong after walking the first two batters. He struck out Kody Clemens, got Brandon Marsh to fly out, and then struck out Kyle Schwarber to seal the win. This victory marks the Mets’ first trip to the league championship series since 2015, when they won the National League pennant.
Lindor’s grand slam broke a scoreless tie after the Mets had failed to capitalize on two bases-loaded opportunities earlier in the game against Phillies starter Ranger Suarez. Mets pitcher Jose Quintana kept the team competitive, allowing just one run on two hits and two walks over five innings. Reed Garrett contributed by striking out two batters to prevent further damage in the sixth, while David Peterson excelled in relief, pitching 2⅓ innings and striking out a key batter while managing to navigate through a tough sixth and seventh inning.
The Mets pressured the Phillies’ pitchers throughout the night but had been thwarted in previous opportunities, including the first and third innings when they loaded the bases but failed to score. Lindor changed the game’s narrative with a powerful hit that cleared the bases, giving the Mets a commanding lead.
Despite the challenges faced by both teams, the Mets demonstrated persistence, particularly with Peterson’s strong performance in relief and the disciplined approach at the plate that ultimately paid off as they secured the playoff series.