Despite Game 2 loss, Mets give fans plenty of reason to believe heading home for NLDS Game 3

PHILADELPHIA — Harrison Bader has deemed the New York Mets a "traveling circus" over the last two weeks.

And what a fun act it has been as it continues to refine its performance in the postseason. There's been magic, high-wire acts and a little bit of clowning around in the clubhouse following emotional victories.

After two weeks away, expect plenty of fanfare when the Mets return to their home at Citi Field for Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the rival Phillies at 5:08 p.m. on Tuesday, even following a riveting 7-6 walk-off loss on Sunday afternoon.

"This is what everybody wants out of October baseball," Brandon Nimmo said. "I think we put on quite a show for everybody in attendance and everybody watching on TV. It's really fun to play baseball like this. That was, again, just an instant classic game."

Throughout the Mets' run to and through the playoffs, they have made one thing clear: It's not safe to turn your TV off even when the game feels like it might be out of reach.

It happened again on Sunday. The Mets jumped ahead 3-0 on a two-run home run by Mark Vientos and solo home run by Pete Alonso. Then, the Phillies evened the score as Luis Severino conceded a two-run shot to Bryce Harper and solo home run to Nick Castellanos in the next at-bat.

Nimmo answered with a go-ahead solo home run off Orion Kerkering in the next half inning. After the Mets fell behind 6-4 when Edwin Diaz gave up three earned runs, it was Vientos' call to action as he ripped a game-tying home run off Matt Strahm in the ninth.

"I think we're ready to handle anything," said Vientos, who now carries a .400 postseason average (8-for-20) with two home runs, seven RBI and five runs back home. "I keep saying this, I'm excited to get back because it's been like two weeks we've been on the road. Now, we're going to get our home crowd advantage, so I'm excited for that."

Nick Castellanos ended up lifting the Phillies up to their first win of the postseason on an RBI single off Tylor Megill.

As rowdy as it was at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, Mets fans will be making up for lost time in Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Consider all of the euphoric moments that Mets fans have missed with their team on the road since Sept. 23:

• A six-run eighth inning and Francisco Lindor's go-ahead two-run home run that helped the Mets clinch a playoff spot in the first game of a must-win doubleheader against the Braves in Atlanta on the final day of the 2024 season.
• Pete Alonso's go-ahead three-run home in a must-win Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Brewers in Milwaukee. It will go down as one of the biggest Mets home runs in team history and the first go-ahead home run in the ninth inning or later of a winner-take-all postseason game.
• In the first postseason game between the Mets and Phillies, a five-run eighth inning that helped erase an empty seven innings in a comeback 6-2 win over the Phillies to take Game 1 of the NLDS.

"Yeah, it was long, but we were playing really good baseball," Diaz said. "We've been in a lot of big games and it doesn't feel that bad because we were doing our job."

There were certainly lessons learned in Sunday's loss as there have been throughout the Mets' two week journey. Diaz, who was coming off a 39-pitch, five-out win in Game 3 against the Brewers, said he wishes he had been more aggressive to Bryce Harper in the second at-bat of the eighth inning.

Harper drew a walk and then crossed as one of the go-ahead runs off Diaz on a two-run triple by Bryson Stott.

"I went lazy to him instead of attacking him," Diaz said. "I tried to make pitches to see if he can chase and get the out instead of going against him like I always do."

Yet the Mets, who were sizable underdogs to overtake the Phillies entering the series, head back home for the first time in control of home field. The team's core has provided encouraging moments, with Alonso adding a home run and Lindor knocking two more hits on Sunday.

The Mets have worked the Phillies bullpen, with high-leverage options Kerkering and Strahm pitching in back-to-back games.

The performance is just getting underway for Mets fans at home. And they have a chance to make it a special debut at Citi Field over the next two games.

"We threw some punches and we did a really good job. I'm very, very proud of these guys," Nimmo said. "I do look at it as a win. Coming out of Philadelphia 1-1, if you would have asked before those games if you would've taken that, I definitely think so.

"There's lessons to be turned, but again, what an amazing game and you're not going to win them all."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Despite Game 2 loss, Mets give fans plenty of reason to believe heading home for NLDS Game 3