The New York Mets have clinched their first NLCS trip since 2015 after beating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in Game 4 of the NLDS, thereby clinching the division series by a score of 3-1.
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The series was packed with drama, especially with Francisco Lindor’s go-ahead grand slam that secured the series for the Mets. But beyond the scorelines, some players stood out while others underperformed.
Lindor was undoubtedly the series MVP. His grand slam in Game 4 will be one of the most pivotal moments, underlining the Mets’ 4-1 lead and their first NLCS trip since 2015. Besides that, the 30-year-old was a constant force throughout the series, demonstrating leadership and clutch hitting when it mattered most. He was also crucial on defense, consistently making solid plays to keep the Phillies’ offense in check.
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Francisco Lindor hit a grand slam in the sixth inning, clinching the NLCS for the Mets for the first time since 2015.
Francisco Lindor’s heroics made him the star of the series, especially after making history as only the second player to hit two postseason grand slams in his career. However, other notable performances include that of Pete Alonso, Mark Vientos, and Sean Manea’s Game 3 outing.
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Biggest letdown: Phillies Bullpen
On the other hand, the Phillies bullpen was the biggest letdown of the series. Throughout the season, the bullpen was a point of weakness, and it was made clear in the NLDS, especially in Games 1 and 4. The last straw of Philadelphia’s postseason dreams was Carlos Estevez, who gave up Lindor’s series-clinching grand slam.
The Phillies’ bullpen was the biggest letdown, especially Carlos Estevez’s performance during Game 1 and Game 4 of the NLDS.
Despite some strong initial pitching, especially from Zac Wheeler, the team’s inability to relieve games became its Achilles’ heel, ultimately costing them a chance at advancing to the NLCS.
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About the author
Pablo Ricalde
Pablo Ricalde has been a baseball journalist at Sportskeeda since 2022. A Communication Studies graduate, he attended journalism courses and specialized in copywriting, further adding to his background as a writer.
After 4 years working in the advertising industry and 2 years in sports journalism, Pablo currently works at a Marketing Consulting firm on top of his role at Sportskeeda. He believed in sourcing information only from reliable sources, and refrains from including any opinionated content in his articles.
Pablo was introduced to baseball as a kid by his grandfather, who even coached him in Little League for a year. A massive Boston Red Sox supporter, he ended up becoming a fan in an attempt to be original (as his parents are Yankees fans). Pablo also supports the Diablos Rojos from the Mexican league, his hometown team.
His favorite players of all time are David Ortiz and Derek Jeter, while his current favorites include Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acuna Jr., Alex Verdugo and Randy Arozarena. His favorite moment as a baseball fan was when the Boston Red Sox won the 2018 World Series Championship, as he was too young to remember 2004.
A huge sports fan in general, Pablo's non-baseball interests include football, basketball, American football, and motorsports (F1, IndyCar and Nascar), music and cinema.