PHILADELPHIA – Red October has returned to South Philly.
The National League East champion Philadelphia Phillies hosted their bitter rivals, the New York Mets, in Game One of the National League Division Series.
The pageantry of professional baseball is certainly a beautiful sight to see. Opening Day is always selectable, but the first home game of a post-season matchup is just as wonderful. The teams being announced, ceremonial first pitches, and the National Anthem all add to the excitement in the park. Citizens Bank Park was buzzing and you could feel the hope in the air.
Zack Wheeler took the ball for the 12th time in the post-season for the Phillies. Their ace took the mound with a chance to take a 1-0 lead in the NLDS.
Welcome to Red October
With adrenaline in his soul, Zack Wheeler was ready to go. In the top of the 1st inning, Wheeler could not have been more perfect.
It took the Phillies’ ace just 11 pitches to retire Lindor, Vientos, and Nimmo down 1-2-3. He did not miss the zone and threw 11 strikes to the Mets’ hitters. His velocity was up and his command was pinpoint with accuracy. That took the club to the bottom of the first inning.
For some reason, there is still a small minority that believes Kyle Schwarber shouldn’t lead off for the Phillies. After hitting 15 leadoff home runs in 2024, Kyle felt like he needed to silence the doubts once again.
Schwarber crushed Kodai Senga‘s second pitch to deep right field, giving the Phillies a 1-0 lead. The stadium was shaking and the fans were loud.
This was Schwarber’s 12 post-season home as a Phillie. That is currently the most all-time in the franchise’s history. It was his 5th leadoff homer in the playoffs and 4th as a member of the club. Bryce Harper is second and trails by 1.
Back and Forth
As the game progressed, the offenses traded quiet frames. No runs would be scored in the second and third innings, as New York brought David Peterson in to relieve Kodai Senga.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Mets would threaten. A leadoff single by Mark Vientos got the party started for New York. The following hitter, Brandon Nimmo would work a full count, before being walked. With two runners on and nobody out, it got uncomfortable in Citizens Bank Park. The fans didn’t waiver and neither did their pitcher.
Wheeler would get Pete Alonso to sit down on strikes looking. The Polar Bear did not like the call and made a remark to home plate umpire Andy Fletcher. The next batter was Jose Iglesias. Wheeler would get him to roll into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. It was on to the bottom of the fourth for the Fightin Phillies.
The Phillies would manufacture a runner into scoring position with two outs. With Bryson Stott on second base, Brandon Marsh had a chance to extend the lead. Facing the left-hander Peterson, Brandon Marsh would hit a ball to deep right. The park held it however and the side would be retired. He just missed on a potential 2-run home run.
Wheeler Shines, Phillies Bullpen Does Not
In the top of the 6th inning, Zack Wheeler made a little history. With his 9th strikeout of the game, he would tie Cole Hamels for the all-time Phillies leader in post-season strikeouts.
Wheeler delivered a playoff gem once again for the Phillies. 7 innings pitched, one hit allowed, four walks, and nine strikeouts in the game. He went over 100 pitches (111 to be exact) and had his velocity the entire way.
In the top of the 8th inning, Zack would turn the ball over to Jeff Hoffman. The team’s best reliever all season entered the game with a 1-run lead.
The leadoff hitter was Francisco Alvarez. The young catcher for the Mets singled up the middle for a leadoff single. The next batter was Francisco Lindor, who would earn a hard-fought walk. With the winning run on first base, Mark Vientos stepped to the plate. The young third basemen would rip a ball to left field, tying the game up at 1-1.
That would be it for Hoffman, as Rob Thomson made a move. He went to Matt Strahm to try and hold the game at 1-1. The first batter he faced was Brandon Nimmo, who promptly hit another ball to left field. This gave New York a 2-1 lead.
The next batter was Pete Alonso. Alonso, who was 0-3 with 3 strikeouts against Wheeler, would float a ball into center field. It was deep enough to score the run, making it 3-1 Mets. In a matter of moments, the momentum had flipped.
Jose Iglesias would step to the plate next. He would single into center field, which was yet another Mets’ hit. This was it for Strahm who would exit with just 1 out to his name. Orion Kerkering would then try and keep the Mets at bay.
Kerkering would not be successful in that endeavor. He would allow a single to JD Martinez, who pinch-hit for Jesse Winker. Starling Marte would then hit a sac fly to center field, bringing home the 5th run of the 8th inning for the Mets.
Back Against the Wall
After a nightmare top of the 8th, the Phillies were running out of time. The man who had delivered twice on the night, Kyle Schwarber, led off the frame. Schwarber would not put up much of a fight against Phil Maton, who sat him down looking. The next batter was Trea Turner. Trea would also become a victim of the strikeout. He went 0/4 on the day.
Bryce Harper needed to find a way to get his team going. The Phillies offense goes when Harper does. Bryce would work a deep count, before poking a ball down the right-field line. His double was just the third hit of the night.
Next was Nick Castellanos, who was looking to break his 0-3 night. Nick hit a ball just past the diving Francisco Lindor to reach base. With runners at the corners and 2 outs, Alec Bohm had a chance to deliver.
Quickly finding himself in a 0-2 hole, Alec would have to dig deep. A routine ground ball to third base would roll off his bat, ending the threat in the 8th.
The 9th
In the top of the 9th frame, Rob Thomson would make the move to Tanner Banks.
Banks would strike out Lindor and Vientos after a lead-off single to Harrison Bader. A two-out RBI single by Brandon Nimmo would give New York another insurance run. This meant the Phillies would have to overcome a 5-run deficit in the bottom of the inning.
Bryson Stott would lead off the 9th inning with a strikeout. JT Realmuto would walk to get a runner on base for the Phils before Brandon Marsh flew out to center field. With two outs, Kody Clemens pinch-hit for Johan Rojas, a move that you might have anticipated to occur before the start of tonight’s matchup.
Clemens would make the most of his opportunity, driving home Realmuto with a double. This made it 6-2 New York, which was the final score.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
