Backed By Nolan McLean’s Eight Shutout Inning, Mets Offense Finishes Off Phillies Sweep

After the Mets’ thrilling walk-off win in opposition to the Phillies on Tuesday, followers spilled onto the road and partied beneath the subway tracks, not wanting the great vibes to finish. 

A crowd fashioned round a drummer earlier than “Let’s Go Mets!” chants erupted. Even a younger child sporting a purple Bryce Harper jersey couldn’t assist however elevate his arm and pump his fist, by no means thoughts that Citi Discipline is a home of horrors for the Phillies. 

There’s nothing fairly like Queens in a pennant race, significantly when Mets right-handed rookie Nolan McLean shut down the Phillies offense by means of eight scoreless innings and energized his membership of their 6-0 win on Wednesday. Armored with glorious pitching, the Amazins are a totally completely different staff. 

“We’ve been lacking that kind of efficiency just about the entire 12 months,” Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned of McLean, who grew to become the primary participant in Mets franchise historical past to earn a win in every of his first three profession video games. “And right here we’re, once we gotta go. Simply as a staff, when he takes the baseball, you are feeling fairly good about your probabilities.”

The Mets are clicking once more, and that’s largely as a result of their lineup is lastly connecting in high-leverage conditions. Since August 1, with runners in scoring place, the Mets lead the key leagues in batting common (.358), rank second in OPS (1.020) and wRC+ (180), and rank third in runs scored (100). 

Their clutch efficiency was on full show as they swept the Phillies in a essential three-game collection that helped them acquire floor within the NL East standings. The Mets outscored the Phillies 25-8 this week, creating rallies and scoring runners whereas taking part in situational and sensible baseball.

Juan Soto has been proper in the midst of that. After failing to capitalize in high-leverage conditions to start his Mets profession, since August 1 the slugger has a .368 batting common with runners in scoring place. 

“For me, after I could not come by means of like that, it harm,” Soto mentioned. “As a result of it hurts the staff too. However we transfer on from that. Now we’re taking higher at-bats. We’re taking higher photographs on the market. Undoubtedly we’re discovering the holes, and as a staff we’re making higher choices. We have been getting higher outcomes from that.”

Pete Alonso and Juan Soto have fun a 6-0 win in opposition to the Phillies at Citi Discipline in New York Metropolis. (Photograph by Kent J. Edwards/Getty Pictures)

The Phillies, in the meantime, have misplaced their final 10 straight video games at Citi Discipline, courting again to final September. Even when they received’t outright admit it, it’s clear to see that the Mets are of their heads. 

New York (72-61) is now 4 video games behind Philly (76-57), and the division rivals are set to face off three extra instances earlier than the calendar flips to postseason baseball. 

“I’ve all the time mentioned the most well liked staff wins within the playoffs,” Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo mentioned. “It doesn’t matter who’s one of the best staff. It’s the most well liked staff. So, this may be a great time to maintain issues going. We’re very proud of the way in which the offense is taking part in proper now.”

It took them some time to get right here, however that is the offense the Mets envisioned after they signed Soto and inserted him into an already-powerful lineup that took the reigning champions Los Angeles Dodgers to Sport 6 of the NLCS final 12 months. The Mets have recorded double-digit hits 12 instances of their final 16 video games. They’re getting contributions from up and down the lineup, not simply from the highest 4 in Francisco Lindor, Soto, Pete Alonso, and Brandon Nimmo. 

And, similar to final 12 months, they’re beginning to step up when they should.

Ever since catcher Francisco Alvarez, who supplied a much-needed offensive spark in July, went on the injured listing with a thumb harm, third baseman Mark Vientos has been on a tear on the plate. Vientos prolonged his hitting streak to 10 video games on Wednesday, going 2-for-4 with a two-run residence run. Six of his 13 residence runs this season have come over his 10-game hitting streak, and he has 17 RBIs over that span. 

With simply over a month left within the common season, the Mets are taking part in with urgency at precisely the suitable time. 

“We all know how nice of a staff we’re,” Vientos mentioned. “That is simply what we do.”

Deesha Thosar covers Main League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand coated the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Day by day Information. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Lengthy Island and now lives in Queens. Comply with her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

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