Magical Mets win Game 3, push Phillies to brink

NEW YORK — Pete Alonso launched another homer off Aaron Nola, and Sean Manaea took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning as the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 on Tuesday in Game 3 of their NL Division Series.

Jesse Winker also went deep and Starling Marte had a pivotal two-run single to help the wild-card Mets, playing their first home game in 16 days, grab a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

Game 4 is Wednesday, with All-Star Ranger Suárez scheduled to start for Philadelphia against fellow lefty Jose Quintana. A win advances New York to the National League Championship Series to face the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres.

The Mets have never had a clinching celebration at Citi Field, which opened in 2009.

“It would be fantastic to get it done, but we’ve got to stay within ourselves,” Alonso said.

After reaching the 2022 World Series and Game 7 of last year’s NLCS, the NL East champion Phillies are on the brink of an early playoff exit at the hands of the rival Mets.

“I know it got out that I had spoken to the team,” manager Rob Thomson said. “Basically, it’s just very simple: You come in here tomorrow, and I told them it’s the most resilient club I’ve ever been around. That’s what they’re all about. They’re all about toughness and fighting and playing together. That’s what we need to do, and just focus on one game.”

Manaea was lifted after allowing an infield single to start the eighth. The big left-hander, who blossomed into New York’s ace during the second half of the season, received hearty pats on the chest from teammates and a standing ovation from the towel-waving sellout crowd of 44,093 as he strolled off the mound.

Aided by a terrific throw from Tyrone Taylor in center field, Manaea earned his first playoff win after entering 0-3 with a 10.66 ERA in his postseason career. He struck out six and walked two.

“Felt like he wanted this moment,” teammate Francisco Lindor said. “He gave everything he had.”

Clinging to a 2-0 lead, Manaea escaped major trouble in the sixth. After issuing consecutive walks to start the inning, he received a mound visit from pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and struck out star slugger Bryce Harper on three off-speed pitches.

“Just went right after him,” Manaea said.

Nick Castellanos then lined into an inning-ending double play, as the Mets’ middle infield doubled off Kyle Schwarber at second base. A pumped-up Manaea screamed “Let’s go!” as he bounced off the mound.

Alonso sent Nola’s first pitch of the second deep to right field. He flipped his bat high in the air on his way to first base when the ball reached the front row of the second deck.

It was Alonso’s second home run of the series and third in New York’s past four playoff games. All of those have been to the opposite field – the slugger went the other way on only four of his 34 homers during the regular season.

“Wherever it goes out, if it does, I’m just happy it does,” Alonso said. “If I’m hitting balls the other way, it’s a pretty good sign.”

Nola and Alonso have been squaring off since their college days in the Southeastern Conference, but the matchup has been one-sided in the majors. It was Alonso’s sixth career homer off the right-hander, after entering with a .320 batting average and 1.050 OPS in 54 career plate appearances against him.

“He knows me. I know him. He’s a great, talented pitcher,” Alonso said. “He’s a tough AB. I’m just happy I was able to come through for the team.”

Thomson left Nola on the mound in the sixth to face Alonso, who drew New York’s second consecutive walk following Mark Vientos‘ leadoff single.

With the bases loaded, Orion Kerkering replaced Nola and got two outs before Marte’s two-run single made it 4-0.

Brandon Nimmo and Alonso drew back-to-back walks to load the bases again in the seventh before Jose Iglesias added a two-run single off José Ruiz with two outs.

Harper and Castellanos each hit an RBI single in the eighth, but Ryne Stanek retired slumping Alec Bohm to end the inning.

Lindor, playing his first home game since Sept. 8 because of a back injury, delivered a run-scoring double in the bottom half to make it 7-2.

The exuberant Winker connected for a solo shot in the fourth and watched the whole way from home plate as his first career postseason homer soared into the second deck in right.