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The Mets get three big two-out hits in the decisive win in Game 3

The Mets get three big two-out hits in the decisive win in Game 3

If anything, it has become a common and indispensable denominator for the Mets during their postseason run. They had the drama in the ninth inning.

The Magical Homers. The legacy moments.

But during their 7-2 victory over the Phillies in Game 3 of the NLDS, the Mets needed a different kind of clutch hitting to complement an early pair of home runs.


Starling Marte hits a two-run single in the sixth inning of the Mets' 7-2 victory over the Phillies in Game 3 of the NLDS on October 8, 2024.
Starling Marte hits a two-run single in the sixth inning of the Mets' 7-2 victory over the Phillies in Game 3 of the NLDS on October 8, 2024. Robert Sabo/New York Post

Starling Marte, Jose Iglesias and Francisco Lindor, who drove in the final five runs on Tuesday, all scored with two outs – with those one-off runs turning into crucial ones after the Phillies ended the shutout bid with two outs in the eighth.

“Two-out hits are huge in the postseason,” Lindor said.

In the sixth inning, Marte knew he didn't want to chase a pitch from Orion Kerkering.

The Mets had loaded the bases with no outs, but after the Phillies pulled starter Aaron Nola, Kerkering induced a fielder's choice groundout and a fly out.

With an outside sweeper, Marte steered the ball up the middle to score two runs and extend the Mets' lead to four.

Iglesias faced a similar situation the next inning.

The bases were loaded again with two outs.


Jose Iglesias ripped a two-run single in the seventh inning of the Mets' Game 3 win.
Jose Iglesias ripped a two-run single in the seventh inning of the Mets' Game 3 win. Corey Sipkin/New York Post

An infield single and two walks prompted Phillies manager Rob Thomson to bring in Jose Ruiz.

But Iglesias continued his recent breakthrough — a career-high 22-game performance to close the regular season, hitting in five of the Mets' six postseason games — with a two-run single up the middle to make it 6-0.

It was the Mets' fourth hit with the bases loaded this postseason.

Then in the eighth, Lindor doubled down the first base line to bring in JD Martinez with two outs, giving the Mets some cushion after the Phillies had narrowed their deficit.

“They hit them good at bats,” Thomson said of the Mets’ hitters against his bullpen. “To tell you the truth, I don’t think we execute on pitches.”

The Mets hit home runs — by Pete Alonso and Jesse Winker — against Nola to get the crowd at Citi Field pumped up.

They wouldn't have been in this spot if Alonso hadn't hit a home run in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series.

But Marte's two-out single added another run later in that crucial ninth inning last week.

Their five-run fifth in the first game of this series also came with two outs.

And on Tuesday, similar success helped the Mets advance to the NLCS.

“When you put the ball in play, good things happen,” Iglesias said, “and that shows with Marte and with me.”

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