Mets Rally in the Seventh to Overcome Phillies, as Lindor's Return Approaches

After the Mets secured a 6-4 victory against the Phillies on Thursday night, manager Carlos Mendoza and several players discussed the pivotal moments of the game. The seventh inning proved crucial as the Mets turned a tied game into a lead.

Entering the seventh with a 3-3 score, the inning nearly concluded without any scoring, following a leadoff single by Carson Benge that went uncapitalized by Bo Bichette and Juan Soto. However, pinch-hitter Mark Vientos stepped up, falling behind 1-2 before drawing a walk on three consecutive balls from Phillies pitcher Jose Alvarado. This key at-bat set the stage for Eric Wagaman, who followed with a pinch-hit single, allowing the Mets to take the lead. Marcus Semien then delivered a two-run triple, further extending the advantage. Mendoza highlighted Vientos’ contribution, stating, “I thought Vientos’ at-bat there was the key of that whole inning.”

Semien's triple was nearly thwarted as he faced a 2-2 count and swung at a pitch in the dirt, which the umpire ruled a foul tip, granting him another chance. Semien seized the opportunity, smashing a 99.6 mph triple off the left-center wall. “I’m glad that ball hit the dirt because I would have been walking back to the dugout and no runs would have scored,” Semien remarked.

Mendoza also addressed his decision to replace rookie A.J. Ewing with Wagaman for the pinch-hit opportunity, noting the favorable matchup against the left-handed Alvarado. “Tough left-on-left matchup… you got a bullet understanding that’s a pretty good bullpen there,” he explained. Wagaman's success in that moment was a relief for Mendoza, who humorously claimed, “I look like a genius,” after the move paid off.

In other news, Francisco Lindor is set to begin his rehabilitation with Double-A Binghamton on Friday. Out since April 22 due to a calf strain, Lindor’s teammates are eager for his return. “It’s huge. It’s Francisco Lindor,” said Sean Manaea, emphasizing the shortstop's importance to the team. The Mets are optimistic Lindor could rejoin the lineup by the end of June.