The Mets were oh-so close to another thrilling, improbable comeback win in Sunday’s game two, tying the game in the ninth inning on a Mark Vientos two-run blast before the Phillies walked it off in the bottom half.
What was potentially the latest indescribable victory turned into a deflating defeat to tie the NLDS at one game apiece, but a major consolation for the Mets was the performance of Vientos, who has arrived on the big stage as he continues his rise to stardom.
The 24-year-old demolished Philly pitching in game two, cranking an opposite-field home run to start the scoring on Sunday, then taking a Matt Strahm high fastball well above the zone into the seats in left center field to tie the game in the ninth. Vientos’ home runs bookended a double, making him the youngest player in National League history to record three extra-base hits in a playoff game.
Vientos already has several clutch hits on his October resume, which is only five games old. Back in game one, he laced a game-tying single in the eighth inning during another Mets rally to send them to a shocking win on the road. It was Vientos’ second hit of the game, and yet another sign of Vientos carrying the clutch gene. Looking back, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise considering he crushed a walk-off home run against the Cardinals in his second game back in the majors after being called up at the end of April.
Vientos’ call-up early in the season came after he lost his bid for a major-league spot in spring training, as many wondered if the hyped prospect would turn out to be a dud. Vientos was coming off a 2023 season in which he posted a .620 OPS in 233 plate appearances, and had just lost his job to Brett Baty. But after tearing up the minor leagues, Vientos carried his momentum to the big leagues, finishing the year with 27 home runs and an .837 OPS. That momentum has been taken right into October, and the Mets’ promising youngster is proving that no moment is too big.
Vientos’ playoff career has spanned five games so far. In that time, he has two home runs, one of them to tie the game in the ninth inning, one game-tying single, eight hits, and 15 total bases. It is about as good of a start as the Mets could have hoped for, and if it continues, New York could continue its magic playoff ride.