Mets Eliminate Phillies, Advance to NLCS

The New York Mets are heading back to the NLCS for the first since 2015, following a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the League Division Series out at Citi Field on Wednesday night.

As he has all season, Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor played the role of the hero, crushing a grand slam home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to propel the Mets back to the League Championship, while bringing down the house in the process.

The Mets had struggled the entire night with the bases loaded, leaving ducks on the pond in both the first and second innings, respectively.

Francisco Lindor. Getty Images

When Lindor connected on a fastball from Jeff Hoffman, Citi Field rose in anticipation, then erupted into a deafening and dazzling display of euphoria as Lindor rounded first base after sending the ball over the right-center field wall.

It was easily the loudest Citi Field has been all season, and that is saying a lot, because this Mets team has been an amazing story of resilience all year long, especially since the month of June when this 2024 season turned around.

David Peterson, normally the Mets fifth starter, was brilliant in 2.1 innings of relief, holding the Phillies to a pair of hits. That set the stage of Edwin Diaz, who worked around a pair of walks to lock down the save and send the Mets to the Southern California for the opening of the NLCS.

Not only did New York clinch it's first trip to the NLCS in nine years, it was the Mets first playoff series victory at Citi Field since the building opened back in 2009. It was also the first playoff series victory for the Mets at home since the 2000 NLCS.

It's fair to say it's been a long time coming. For the Mets and their fans, the 2024 season has been nothing short of spectacular. Now they get a shot a trying to make the improbable a reality with bigger dreams and goals still in front of them.

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