PHILADELPHIA — Two Philadelphia Phillies fans walked around the Citizens Bank Park concourse on Saturday afternoon asking fans decked in red and powder blue, if they were ready to “smash the pumpkin.” Clearly, the “playoff pumpkin” displayed by Pete Alonso after the Mets ‘ Wild Card win is not welcome in enemy territory. The pumpkin remains intact after a 6-2 win in Game 1 of the NLDS.
The Mets scored five runs in the top of the eighth off three Philadelphia relievers to win in comeback fashion for the third time in four playoff games. The city of Philadelphia seems to be under the impression that the Mets advanced to the NLDS by sheer vibes alone. To be fair, the Mets did have a menagerie of mascots this season and their second baseman is a Latin pop star, so yeah, the vibes are high, but the same was said about the Phillies during their run to the World Series two years ago.
Kodai Senga made his anticipated return and promptly gave up a 425-foot bomb to Kyle Schwarber in the bottom of the first. But Senga, David Peterson, Reed Garrett, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek combined to hold the Phillies scoreless nearly the rest of the way through. They limited the NL East champs to two runs on five hits, with Stanek giving up a run in the top of the ninth.
Zack Wheeler, a former Mets starter, was brilliant, shutting the Mets out over seven innings, allowing only one hit, while walking three and striking out nine. The Mets swung and missed 30 times on Wheeler’s offerings,.
