Even the best storyteller would have been on edge throughout the demanding two-week journey that the New York Mets underwent.
After beginning in New York, they moved to Atlanta. After suffering consecutive rainouts from Hurricane Helene, they flew north to Milwaukee for the weekend. Subsequently, there was a makeup doubleheader in Atlanta, and a trip back to Milwaukee for the Wild Card Series. At last, they traveled to Philadelphia in the east to play two more playoff games.
Now that the best-of-five NL Division Series is deadlocked at one game apiece, they will play a crucial Game 3 at Citi Field on Tuesday against the rival Phillies.
Carlos Mendoza, manager of the Mets, remarked, “Feels like we’ve been on the road forever.”
During this journey, they secured five key wins, had three exciting comebacks, celebrated twice with champagne, and traveled a total of 3,566 miles.
Star shortstop Francisco Lindor mentioned that he had never been on a road trip this intense.
“Incredible. I think you could write a book. You could make a movie,” Mendoza said on Monday while both teams practiced at Citi Field.
When the Mets left on September 22 after a Sunday night win over Philadelphia, their goal was to secure a National League wild card and play long enough in the postseason to return to Queens this year.
They anticipated difficulty. It’s easy to forget that the Mets are only 5-6 since their last home game given all the highs they’ve recently experienced.
But they’re here now.
With a struggling Alec Bohm back in the Phillies lineup for Game 3, left-hander Sean Manaea remarked, “We’ve had to go through a lot of things just to get here.”
“We simply never give up and are still here. All we need to do is open a door and wait to see what transpires. Now that time has come. It’s been quite the journey.
