The New York Mets’ offense is suddenly living up to its billion-dollar billing — and they proved it again on Tuesday night with a thrilling 6-5 walk-off victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field.
Just two weeks ago, the Mets were mired in inconsistency, ranking 17th in MLB in runs scored despite boasting stars like Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso. Fast forward to late August, and the turnaround has been remarkable: since August 12, the Mets have scored 99 runs across 14 games, averaging a league-best 7.1 runs per contest.
Nimmo Delivers the Walk-Off
The hero of the night was Brandon Nimmo, who ripped a walk-off single off Phillies closer Jhoan Duran in the bottom of the ninth inning. The hit sent the near sellout crowd of 41,914 into a frenzy as teammates mobbed him on the field.
“This is the most talented team I’ve ever played on,” Nimmo said postgame. “We just have to go out there and execute every night.”
Five-Run Fifth Sparks Rally
The Mets’ biggest push came in the fifth inning, when they plated five runs after Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo was ejected. Alonso wasted no time, drilling a two-run double off reliever Orion Kerkering, before Nimmo and red-hot Mark Vientos added RBI hits to extend the lead.
Though embattled Mets reliever Ryan Helsley allowed two runs in the eighth to tie the game, New York’s relentless approach at the plate paid off late.
“Just relentless at-bats,” said Brett Baty. “That’s what’s making the difference.”
Mets Heating Up at the Right Time
The win marked the Mets’ ninth straight victory over Philadelphia at Citi Field and trimmed the Phillies’ NL East lead to just five games. Manager Carlos Mendoza praised his hitters’ new mindset.
“When you create traffic, it’s contagious,” Mendoza said. “The guys are competing every at-bat, and it’s showing.”
New York’s improved situational hitting has been key — the Mets lead MLB in batting average with runners in scoring position this month, collecting 16 hits in the past two games alone.
What’s Next
With rookie sensation Nolan McLean set to take the mound in Wednesday’s finale and top prospect Jonah Tong waiting for his debut, the Mets suddenly look like one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball.
“We love the fight, the compete, not giving up and playing the whole game,” Mendoza added. “We did it yesterday. We did it today. Now we need to keep it rolling.”
