NEW YORK — Earlier than the New York Mets gathered for one more celebratory crew picture Wednesday night time, after one other thrilling postseason victory prolonged this dream season to the Nationwide League Championship Collection, Francisco Lindor made it some extent to hug as many individuals as doable.

The night time’s star because of a go-ahead grand slam, the franchise cornerstone paid like a franchise cornerstone for these nights, bounced across the infield grass at Citi Area from embrace to embrace. There was a heat hug with Alex Cohen, proprietor Steve Cohen’s spouse, who was in tears. There have been daps with teammates and coaches and assist workers.

Lastly, earlier than speeding to the mound for the crew picture, there was an prolonged hug by second base with Brandon Nimmo, the longest-tenured participant on the roster. The shortstop and the outfielder squeezed tight. Nimmo dug his face into Lindor’s shoulder. Tears welled in his eyes.

“It is actually onerous to place into phrases what we have gone by means of behind closed doorways,” Nimmo mentioned. “And so for us to have the ability to expertise this collectively, it’s extremely emotional. We are attempting to take pleasure in each second of this.”

Behind Lindor’s slam within the sixth inning, the Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in Sport 4 of the NL Division Collection to succeed in the NLCS for the primary time since 2015. There may be extra work to be achieved, eight wins remaining to succeed in the objective of hoisting the franchise’s first World Collection trophy since 1986. However Wednesday’s win carried weight. The feelings confirmed that.

“That is superb,” Lindor mentioned. “That is a tremendous day.”

By taking the sequence 3-1, the Mets clinched a playoff sequence at Citi Area for the primary time within the ballpark’s 15-year historical past and clinched a sequence at residence in any respect for the primary time because the 2000 NLCS. They’re going to hop on a cross-country flight to play Sport 1 of the NLCS on Sunday in both San Diego or Los Angeles, a indisputable fact that appeared unfathomable 5 months in the past.

The Mets began the season 0-5. They misplaced 15 of 19 video games in Could to fall 11 video games below .500, a disastrous stretch that culminated with reliever Jorge Lopez throwing his glove into the house crowd throughout a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Could 29.

The scenario was dire sufficient for Lindor to name a players-only assembly. New York has gone 72-42 since.

“No one has us anyplace near this second,” Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned. “And for us to be celebrating right here at residence in entrance of our fan base, for Lindor to come back by means of in that approach, what a narrative. I maintain saying it.”

The story contains Grimace, a purple fast-food mascot believed by some to have sparked a seven-game successful streak after throwing out the primary pitch in June. It features a World Struggle II veteran named Seymour Weiner turning into an web sensation after being honored in April. It contains Jose Iglesias, a veteran infielder who did not play within the majors final season, started the 12 months in Triple A, was referred to as up two days after the players-only assembly on the final day of Could, grew to become an integral participant on the sphere whereas a tune he launched a month later grew to become the crew’s anthem, and can launch a remix to the monitor with Pitbull on Friday. It contains “OMG” indicators and a fortunate pumpkin and emotional assist eye black.

Most significantly, it features a seemingly unending provide of clutch hits.

On Wednesday, it was Lindor’s flip — once more. Practically a month after a again damage surfaced to jeopardize his season and 12 days after he delivered a go-ahead, two-run residence run within the Mets’ playoff-clinching win over the Atlanta Braves, Lindor stepped to the plate within the sixth inning with the bases loaded.

Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson summoned Carlos Estévez, his nearer, to face Lindor. The aggressive transfer backfired. Estévez fell behind 2-1 and grooved a 99 mph fastball over the plate. Lindor swatted it 398 ft into the guests bullpen.

“That 341 is wanting fairly freakin’ good proper now,” Steve Cohen informed The New York Put up, referring to Lindor’s contract.

Lindor didn’t flip his bat. He didn’t scream. He didn’t explode with emotion. He didn’t need to. After listening to boos from the house crowd in April for his gradual begin, hysteria surrounded the $341 million shortstop in October.

“I keep in mind placing my palms up,” Mets first baseman Pete Alonso mentioned. “My palms have been simply within the air. I used to be simply in awe. That was an unbelievable swing. That was the swing of a lifetime. That is what you apply within the yard as a child rising up.”

To that time within the recreation, the theme of the night was the Mets’ wasted alternatives. New York left the bases loaded within the first and second innings towards Ranger Suárez. They went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring place and left eight runners on base by means of 5 innings. Suárez, after throwing 53 pitches within the first two innings, in some way pitched into the fifth by accumulating all six of his strikeouts along with his curveball.

“I keep in mind placing my palms up. My palms have been simply within the air. I used to be simply in awe. That was an unbelievable swing. That was the swing of a lifetime. That is what you apply within the yard as a child rising up.”

Pete Alonso on Francisco Lindor’s grand slam

The Phillies, in the meantime, manufactured a run towards Jose Quintana within the fourth inning. Bryce Harper labored a one-out stroll. Nick Castellanos roped a double on the subsequent pitch. Then Alec Bohm hit a dribbler to 3rd baseman Mark Vientos, who bobbled the ball and could not make a play. Harper scored, and the Phillies led 1-0 with just one hit.

The unearned run was the one harm Philadelphia may handle towards Quintana, a 35-year-old left-hander who entered with a 0.63 ERA over his seven begins since Aug. 25. He held Philadelphia to the one run, two hits and two walks. He has but to surrender an earned run in 11 postseason innings.

Quintana was within the coach’s room starting his restoration therapy when his teammates mounted one other risk within the sixth inning. It began with a leadoff single from J.D. Martinez off All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman. Starling Marte was hit by a pitch, and Tyrone Taylor drew a stroll to juice the bases a 3rd time.

The primary try to interrupt by means of went to Francisco Alvarez. He grounded right into a fielder’s alternative at residence plate. Up subsequent got here Lindor.

“The entire time, I used to be like, that is who we’re,” Mendoza mentioned. “That is a part of the story. That is a part of the e book, the film, no matter you need to name it. After which when he connects with that ball, I simply wished him to take pleasure in it and watch the boys bounce up and down. It was onerous for us to attain runs on this recreation. Lindor, our MVP.”

Lindor’s blast has the Mets 4 wins from the sixth league pennant in franchise historical past. It’s the success he envisioned when he signed his 10-year, $341 million contract extension on the eve of opening day in 2021, three months after the Mets acquired him from Cleveland. And it’s the success Nimmo envisioned when the Mets drafted him within the first spherical a decade earlier than that.

The turbulence alongside the way in which is what made Wednesday so memorable. The rationale Lindor raced round hugging folks. The rationale Nimmo shed tears. The job isn’t over, however the Mets savored this step.

“I like them for believing in me,” Lindor mentioned. “I actually consider in each one among them. I consider that anyone at any given time can do one thing particular.”