What Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS was to the Philadelphia Phillies, Game 3 of the 2022 NLWCS may ultimately be seen as for the New York Mets.
For nearly all of the regular season, the Mets led the National League East, before eventually finishing as the top Wild Card winner in the senior circuit at 101-61 when the Atlanta Braves snatched the division-title from them.
Sunday, the San Diego Padres eliminated the Mets, bringing what was one of the most magical seasons in franchise history to a screeching halt.
Not even an uncomfortable foreign substance check could shake Joe Musgrove Sunday, as he allowed just one hit over seven shutout innings in a win-or-go-home game at Citi Field:
Aaron Nola’s older brother, Austin, got the Padres on the board with a two-run single in the top of the second inning off of Chris Bassitt. Juan Soto would also drive in two runs. Sandwiched in between those two, Trent Grisham and Manny Machado also had RBIs.
The Padres will move on to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in one of the two NLDS series’. After the Philadelphia Phillies swept the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday, they’ll take on the defending World Series Champion Atlanta Braves in the other NLDS.
The Mets are now faced with a very uncertain future, as Bassitt, Jacob deGrom, Edwin Díaz, Brandon Nimmo, Taijuan Walker, Carlos Carrasco, Mychal Givens, Trevor May, Adam Ottavino and Seth Lugo can all become free agents.