The Mets trailed by two entering the ninth, tied the game, and lost in the bottom of the inning.
You can’t win ‘em all. Despite another dramatic comeback to tie the game in the ninth inning tonight in Philadelphia, the Mets dropped Game 2 of the NLDS by a 7-6 score on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.
As has been the case for all of the Mets’ playoff games thus far, there was plenty of drama in this one. In short, the Mets jumped out to a 3-0 lead—on a two-run home run by Mark Vientos in the third and a solo shot by Pete Alonso in the top of the sixth—and carried it into the bottom of the sixth.
Luis Severino had shut the Phillies down up to that point, but he gave up a two-run home run to Bryce Harper and a solo shot to Nick Castellanos that tied the game at three.
Brandon Nimmo gave the Mets the lead back very quickly in the top of the seventh with a solo home run, quieting a crowd in Philadelphia that had been quiet for all but the bottom of the sixth to that point.
Unfortunately, the Mets’ bullpen was ineffective from there. José Buttó wasn’t charged with any runs but wasn’t super sharp in his appearance in the seventh. He notched two outs, but the Mets rightfully turned to Edwin Díaz to face Kyle Schwarber with two outs and runners on first and second. Díaz retired Schwarber, a big relief at the time.
But after the Mets failed to score in the eighth, Díaz faltered significantly in the bottom of that inning. A one-out walk to Bryce Harper—seemingly a pitch-around by Díaz—set the Phillies up for a big inning. Nick Castellanos single to put runners on the corner, and Bryson Stott tripled to plate both baserunners, giving the Phillies a 5-4 lead.
From there, the Mets turned to Tylor Megill, who induced a weak grounder to third. Mark Vientos botched it, failing to record an out when he could have and should have thrown out Stott at home plate. That gave the Phillies a 6-4 lead, but Megill got through the inning without any further damage.
In the top of the ninth, Francisco Lindor singled with one out, setting up Vientos for a dramatic, game-tying home run. It sure felt like the Mets were going to win Game 2 at that point, but they didn’t score again in the inning.
Megill retired the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth. But he walked Trea Turner, walked Bryce Harper, and allowed a single to Nick Castellanos. With that, the series was tied. It’ll pick right back up on Tuesday afternoon at Citi Field.
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Box scores
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FanGraphs
Big Mets winner: Mark Vientos, +57.2% WPA
Big Mets loser: Edwin Díaz, -50.6% WPA
Mets pitchers: -93.5% WPA
Mets hitters: +43.5% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Mark Vientos hits a game-tying, two-run home run in the ninth, +35.6% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Bryston Stott hits a go-ahead, two-run triple in the eighth, -41.4% WPA