Mets beat Phillies 7-2 behind Alonso and Manaea to take 2-1 lead in NLDS

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso launched another homer off Aaron Nola, and Sean Manaea took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning as the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 on Tuesday in Game 3 of their NL Division Series.

Jesse Winker also went deep and Starling Marte had a pivotal two-run single to help the wild-card Mets, playing their first home game in 16 days, grab a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five set.

Game 4 is Wednesday, with All-Star Ranger Suárez scheduled to start for Philadelphia against fellow lefty Jose Quintana. A win advances New York to the National League Championship Series to face the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres.

The Mets have never had a clinching celebration at Citi Field, which opened in 2009.

“We’re looking to finish this and be done. They’re looking to try and extend the series and get back to Philadelphia. So it’s a battle of wills tomorrow and we’ll see what happens,” New York outfielder Brandon Nimmo said.

After reaching the 2022 World Series and Game 7 of last year's NLCS, the NL East champion Phillies are on the brink of an early playoff exit at the hands of the rival Mets.

“I know it got out that I had spoken to the team,” manager Rob Thomson said. “Basically it’s just very simple: You come in here tomorrow, and I told them it’s the most resilient club I’ve ever been around. That’s what they’re all about. They’re all about toughness and fighting and playing together. That’s what we need to do, and just focus on one game.”

Manaea was lifted after allowing an infield single to start the eighth. The big left-hander, who blossomed into New York's ace during the second half of the season, received hearty pats on the chest from teammates and a standing ovation from the towel-waving sellout crowd of 44,093 as he strolled off the mound.

He brought his glove to his lips and looked toward the sky.

“That was for my Aunt Mabel. Just got a message that she had passed away early this morning,” Manaea said. “So that game was for her.”

Aided by Tyrone Taylor's terrific throw from deep center field that cut down a runner at second base in the fourth, Manaea earned his first playoff win after entering 0-3 with a 10.66 ERA in his postseason career. He struck out six and walked two.

“Felt like he wanted this moment,” teammate Francisco Lindor said. “He gave everything he had.”

Clinging to a 2-0 lead, Manaea escaped major trouble in the sixth. After issuing consecutive walks to start the inning, he received a mound visit from pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and struck out star slugger Bryce Harper on three off-speed pitches.

“Just went right after it,” Manaea said.

Nick Castellanos then lined into an inning-ending double play, as the Mets' middle infield doubled off Kyle Schwarber at second base. A pumped-up Manaea screamed “Let's go!” as he bounced off the mound.

Alonso sent Nola's first pitch of the second deep to right field. He flipped his bat high in the air on his way to first base when the ball reached the front row of the second deck.

It was Alonso's second home run of the series and third in New York's past four playoff games. All of those have been to the opposite field — the slugger went the other way on only four of his 34 homers during the regular season.

“Wherever it goes out, if it does, I’m just happy it does,” Alonso said. “If I’m hitting balls the other way, it’s typically a good sign.”

Nola and Alonso have been squaring off since their college days in the Southeastern Conference, but the matchup has been one-sided in the majors. It was Alonso's sixth career homer off the right-hander, after entering with a .320 batting average and 1.050 OPS in 54 career plate appearances against him.

“He knows me. I know him,” Alonso said. “He’s a well-polished guy and he’s tough. I’m just happy I was able to come through for the team right there.”

Thomson left Nola on the mound in the sixth to face Alonso, who drew New York's second consecutive walk following Mark Vientos' leadoff single.

With the bases loaded, Orion Kerkering replaced Nola and got two outs before Marte's two-run single made it 4-0.

Nimmo and Alonso drew back-to-back walks to load the bases again in the seventh before Jose Iglesias added a two-run single off José Ruiz with two outs.

Harper and Castellanos each hit an RBI single in the eighth, but Ryne Stanek retired slumping Alec Bohm to end the inning.

Lindor, playing his first home game since Sept. 8 because of a back injury, delivered a run-scoring double in the bottom half to make it 7-2.

The exuberant Winker connected for a solo shot in the fourth and watched the whole way from home plate as his first career postseason homer soared into the second deck in right.

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Suárez, who went 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA in three outings against the Mets this season, had a 6.04 ERA in five September starts totaling only 22 1/3 innings. But he and the Phillies are confident he found a mechanical fix after Suárez (12-8, 3.46 ERA) threw well during an intrasquad game last week.

“What happens in September stays in September. It’s time to turn the page. I just forget about it,” Suárez said through a translator. “We’re October vibes.”

Quintana (10-10, 3.75 ERA) pitched six shutout innings at Milwaukee last Thursday, taking a no-decision in the decisive Game 3 of a Wild Card Series. He was 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA in three starts versus the Phillies this year and threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings of two-hit ball against them for St. Louis in the 2022 playoffs.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

New York Mets pitcher Ryne Stanek (55) reacts after striking out the Philadelphia Phillies to end the ninth inning and Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) reacts as he walks off the field at the end of the top of the seventh inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola is relieved by manager Rob Thomson during the sixth inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola delivers against the New York Mets during the fourth inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) reacts as he walks off the field during the eighth inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso (20) hugs Jesse Winker (3) after hitting a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) delivers against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) reacts as he walks off the field during the eighth inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso (20) tosses his bat as he watches his solo home run sail over the right field wall against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets Pete Alonso (20) connects for a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Napheesa Collier had 27 points and 11 rebounds and Courtney Williams contributed 24 points and both-ends-of-the-court energy to lead the Minnesota Lynx past the Connecticut Sun 88-77 and into the WNBA Finals for the first time in seven years on Tuesday night.

Kayla McBride fueled a strong start with 10 of her 19 points in the first quarter for the Lynx, who advanced to face the top-seeded New York Liberty in Game 1 on Thursday night. The best-of-five series continues with Game 2 in New York on Sunday afternoon, before Minnesota hosts Game 3 on Oct. 16.

The Lynx, who finished second in the league and two games behind the Liberty during the regular season, have won three of four matchups with New York this year. That includes the WNBA Commissioner's Cup on June 25 to take the in-season tournament title.

DiJonai Carrington had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Brionna Jones had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Sun, who shot only 38.5% from the floor (25 for 65) and were flustered into 19 turnovers that the Lynx converted into 22 points.

DeWanna Bonner had 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting for the Sun, who were ousted in the semifinals for the fourth time in six years. They lost in the finals in those other two seasons, 2019 and 2022, when Williams was part of the core that still hasn't cleared that last hurdle to the franchise's first title.

Williams, who’s in her first year with Minnesota, was on a mission to make it there from the tip. The fiery ninth-year point guard was the catalyst on both ends of the floor, attacking the basket, pushing the pace on the break and pestering the Connecticut ball-handlers. Williams had her most points in a playoff game since 2019 and added seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.

The Lynx built a lead as large as 21 points in the second quarter, six more than their biggest of any of the first four games. They had a sluggish start to the second half that was muted by the Sun’s cold shooting, before Alanna Smith swished a 3-pointer to end a 4:22 scoreless skid.

Then Williams swiped the ball away from Bonner as she drove to the basket and sped the other way for a layup and a 58-41 lead. Collier drained a 3-pointer to cap that 12-0 run.

Connecticut eliminated Minnesota here in the decisive Game 3 of the first round last season. Since winning Game 5 of the WNBA Finals in 2017 for their fourth championship in seven years, the Lynx were just 1-4 in winner-take-all games in the playoffs.

The atmosphere at Target Center matched the moment, with a raucous crowd that included former Lynx star and Hall of Fame member Lindsay Whalen, Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones and two members of the state’s congressional delegation, Rep. Angie Craig and Sen. Tina Smith.

Collier, who averaged 40 points in the two-game sweep of the Phoenix Mercury in the first round and had 29 points and 13 rebounds at Connecticut in Game 4, was her usual cool self with the confidence and determination of a star chasing her first championship.

Alyssa Thomas had a quiet seven points and six assists for the Sun, who trailed by double digits for all but 12 seconds of the final three quarters. Marina Mabrey, who came off the bench for the second straight game, hurt her leg in the first half from an awkward step on the baseline and played 14 minutes.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) shoots over Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) during the first half of Game 5 of a WNBA basketball semifinals, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Connecticut Sun guards DiJonai Carrington (21) and Veronica Burton (22) talk during the first half of Game 5 of a WNBA basketball semifinals game against the Minnesota Lynx, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, right, shoots over Connecticut Sun forward DeWanna Bonner during the second half of Game 5 of a WNBA basketball semifinals, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Lynx players celebrates after the 88-77 win against the Connecticut Sun of Game 5 of a WNBA basketball semifinals, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) celebrates with teammates after the 88-77 win against the Connecticut Sun of Game 5 of a WNBA basketball semifinals, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, center, celebrates with teammates after the 88-77 win against the Connecticut Sun of Game 5 of a WNBA basketball semifinals, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Connecticut Sun head coach Stephanie White reacts after a foul called on the Sun during the first half of Game 5 of a WNBA basketball semifinals against the Minnesota Lynx, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) works toward the basket as Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) defends during the first half of Game 5 of a WNBA basketball semifinals, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith (8) points after making a shot during the first half of Game 5 of a WNBA basketball semifinals game against the Connecticut Sun, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) reacts toward a referee during the first half of Game 5 of a WNBA basketball semifinals game against the Minnesota Lynx, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) reacts after a Connecticut Sun timeout called during the first half of Game 5 of a WNBA basketball semifinals, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)