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Mets fans finally get a chance to roar on a dream afternoon

Posted on by Kennedy
Mets fans finally get a chance to roar on a dream afternoon

It's one thing to be loud. And it was loud at Citi Field on Tuesday afternoon, with 44,093 of the truest believers crammed into every nook and cranny. It felt like half the town called it a day after lunch and sprinted to the block party in the parking lot, sort of like a welcome happy hour after 16 days on the road.

They were well strengthened. They were well oiled. The Phillies heard them, you bet.

More importantly, so did the Mets, who seemingly fed off the energy for 2 hours and 55 minutes of playing the crispest, sharpest baseball one could hope for, defeating the Phillies 7-2 and 2-2. 1 took the lead in the best-of-five of the National League Division Series and moved just one step away from a chance to play for the pennant.

The Mets celebrate their NLDS win in Game 3 on Tuesday. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

“What a privilege, what an honor to have this support from the fan base,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Today was a perfect example of what is possible when everyone pulls together. Great. Fantastic. Let’s do it again (Wednesday).”

If they do that, they can avoid a trip back to Philadelphia and simply prepare to hit the road again, to California for the weekend, either Los Angeles or San Diego. If Jose Quintana can emulate Sean Manaea, if Pete Alonso can stay hot, if the lineup can keep changing…

“This,” said Jesse Winker, “is what you dream about as a child.”

Mets outfielder Jesse Winker hit a home run into right field in the second deck on Tuesday. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
The 7th Line Army during the 7th inning stretch.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Winker was one of the Mets who helped galvanize the crowd, which was almost in full delirium when Florida Gator Pete Alonso hit LSU Tiger Aaron Nola deep the other way in the second to win the SEC game , the ice broke and the sound almost shattered the barrier. Alonso, despite all his difficulties, is someone Citi's faithful can rely on.

Winker is another matter. Do you want a soulful player? Winker is an instinctive player. For years, he and the Citi Field audience delivered a back-and-forth that ranged somewhere between playful and provocative, with Winker delighting in the role of provocateur. But even then, you could feel this from Mets fans:

Jesse Winker was ecstatic after his home run in Game 3. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

“He may be an A-hat, but I wish he was OUR A-hat.”

“I feel like I talk about it a lot,” Winker said, half-smiling but not joking at all.

But that’s also part of the fan experience, right? Rangers fans still speak with reverence of Sean Avery, a forward who played 264 games for them and scored a total of 78 goals, but was beloved because he deeply angered 98 percent of the NHL. Winker is Avery without skates. Now that he's a Met, Mets fans can't get enough of him.

Pete Alonso hit a home run for the Mets for the second straight game. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

“I always wondered what it would be like,” Winker said after hitting a solo bomb on the Coca-Cola Porch in the fourth period that doubled the Mets’ lead to 2-0. “New York is a huge market. The team was so welcoming and the fans are so passionate here. It’s like a dream come true.”

Follow the Post's coverage of the Mets in the postseason:

And for these fans it really was a dream afternoon. There was great defense – Mark Vientos robbed Alec Bohm of a goal, then Bohm was thrown out at second when Tyrone Taylor fired his shot off the wall and fired a shot at Francisco Lindor. There were numerous hits: Starling Marte, Jose Iglesias, Lindor.

Ryne Stanek closed out NLDS Game 3. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

All of this feeds the starving masses in the stands, most of whom are thirsty for the hour-long block party in the parking lot after the game.

“It helps to take the lead early,” Lindor said. “You stand on the board and just play with more confidence, and you can feel that in the stands too.”

Killer pitching helps too. And Manaea was great. When he took to the mound just after 5 p.m. on Tuesday, he had a career playoff ERA of 10.66. The last time he appeared in the postseason, two years ago as a Padre, he had been struck out by the same Phillies for four hits and five runs in one inning and a third.

This time? More than seven innings, 91 pitches, three hits, one run. And in the sixth, after leading Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner with the game still 2-0, he promptly knocked Bryce Harper out of bounds. Mendoza played a hunch and pitted him against Nick Castellanos, Sunday's hero, and Castellanos passed to Iglesias, who switched to Lindor to double Schwarber.

A fan holds up a sign for New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

And Manaea threw a vicious and joyous punch, his fist touching the air as Foreman treated Frazier's chin. That's it. And that brought a final rain of thunder from the stands.

“My first roar of the year,” Manaea said, grinning.

And just one of many for the Mets and the fans on a perfect fall day. If they have any of these left in them, they can take this story west and let it last for a few days.

Sean Manaea delivered a gem for the Mets. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

“We need another day like this,” Alonso said.

The fans definitely seem ready for it. Now it's up to the Mets to deliver the final blow.

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