New York Mets defeat Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 in Game 3 - ESPN

NEW YORK — When his brilliant performance was finally over Tuesday, Sean Manaea gave the ball to his manager, said a few words to his infielders and began a different walk off the mound.

The crowd showered him with cheers, delighted with his dominance in the most important game of the wondrous 2024 New York Mets' season. His mind was elsewhere. He took a deep breath. He clapped his glove, tipped his hat to the adoring fans and blew two kisses. One toward them and one toward the sky.

«That was for my Aunt Mabel,» Manaea said. «Just got a message that she had passed away early this morning. And, yeah, so that game was for her.»

What he dedicated to her, given the context, was the best outing of his major league career in the Mets' 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. The 32-year-old left-hander pitched into the eighth inning, affording the Mets much-needed length to spare a taxed bullpen. He held the Phillies, a star-studded group familiar with October intensity, to three hits and two walks with 91 pitches. The only run charged to him scored after he exited.

The start, combined with two early blasts and more late-inning magic, gave the Mets a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. The Mets can eliminate their division rival Phillies and advance to the National League Championship Series with a win in Game 4 on Wednesday.

«We've got to stay humble,» Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. «We've got to come back tomorrow. We have to prepare, we go about our business pregame, and then we've got to go out there, we got to compete and we've got to go out there and execute. We'll see what happens.»

The Mets had gone 16 days without a home game before Tuesday. They left for the road