Mets and Phillies Battle It Out in National League Division Series

The New York Mets delivered a surprising victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first game of the National League Division Series, showcasing their offensive power with two home runs from Mark Vientos and another from Pete Alonso. The thrilling encounter between the two fierce National League East rivals is currently tied at 1-1, as the series shifts to New York for its continuation on Tuesday.

Reflecting on the tight contest, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto remarked, “Definitely an emotional roller coaster of a game. so many ups and downs. We didn’t start off hot, didn’t look good for a while. Big homer from Bryce (Harper), big homer from Casty. Then they take the lead again. Multiple times you felt good and other times you didn’t feel great about your chances. Seemed to happen quickly… Glad we came out on top.”

The Mets of 2024 are drawing comparisons to the 2022 Phillies, noted for their strong rallying capabilities in the latter half of the season following sluggish starts. Similarly, the Mets have also demonstrated resilience, coming back from deficits at crucial stages to clinch victories both in the regular season and playoffs.

When asked about his perspective on the Mets, Realmuto stated, “I wouldn’t call it weird, I have respect for those guys over there. They’re a really good ballclub, and they don’t quit. The whole second half they just grinded out (at-bats). They seem to get better in the later innings with their ABs. They do better off bullpen pitchers which is honestly hard to do.”

The feelings of mutual respect were echoed by Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, who acknowledged the battled effort from the Phillies. “That’s a really good team and you saw it today,” said Mendoza. “They got down, it was 3-0, and it seems like we took the crowd away and before you know it, they got back and tied the game. They continued to fight.”

The series now moves to New York, promising an intense atmosphere that rivals Philadelphia’s notorious Citizens Bank Park. Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper is anticipating a lively environment, stating, “I imagine it’s going to be pretty hostile and a lot of fun. Really looking forward to that.”