New York Mets triumph over Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 in Game 3.

The crowd erupted in cheers, reveling in his dominance during the most pivotal game of the 2024 New York Mets' season. However, Manaea's thoughts were elsewhere. Taking a deep breath, he clapped his glove, tipped his hat to the enthusiastic fans, and blew two kisses—one to the crowd and one to the sky.

"That was for my Aunt Mabel," Manaea said. "I just received a message that she passed away early this morning. So, yeah, that game was for her."

In light of that dedication, Manaea delivered the finest outing of his Major League career, leading the Mets to a 7-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. The 32-year-old left-hander pitched into the eighth inning, providing much-needed length for a bullpen that had been heavily used. He limited the Phillies, a powerhouse team accustomed to October pressure, to just three hits and two walks on 91 pitches. The only run charged to him came after he exited the game.

With this victory, the Mets took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series and can eliminate their division rivals in Game 4 on Wednesday, advancing to the National League Championship Series.

"We've got to stay humble," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza stated. "We have to come back tomorrow, prepare, focus on our pregame routine, and then go out there and execute. We'll see what happens."

The Mets had been away from home for 16 days before returning for Tuesday's game. After defeating the Phillies on September 22, they embarked on a whirlwind journey that took them from the regular season to the playoffs, with stops in Atlanta and Milwaukee, before finally starting the series in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Citi Field was primed for their return, with a raucous sellout crowd welcoming them for the franchise's first divisional round game since 2015. Seymour Weiner, a World War II veteran who gained internet fame after being honored at a game in April, sent a good luck message that was displayed on the videoboard. Additionally, Grimace, the purple McDonald's mascot and team good luck charm since throwing out the first pitch on June 12, arrived at the game with a pumpkin, inspired by first baseman Pete Alonso.

The crowd went wild when Alonso launched a first-pitch fastball from Aaron Nola—an old adversary from their SEC days—into right field for a solo home run in the second inning. This marked Alonso's third postseason home run, all hit to the opposite field, despite him having hit only four of his 34 regular-season homers that way.

"It's more about hitting the ball where it's pitched and making contact with the sweet spot of the bat," Alonso explained. "That's all I'm trying to do in every at-bat."

Jesse Winker doubled the Mets’ lead by sending another fastball from Nola to the second deck down the right-field line. The Mets added two runs in the sixth, two in the seventh, and another in the eighth, providing ample support for the bullpen after Manaea exited.

Manaea’s outing wasn't without its challenges. In the sixth inning, he walked two batters at the top of the Phillies' lineup, putting two-time MVP Bryce Harper at the plate and forcing Mendoza to consider removing Manaea. The manager was leaning toward pulling him after facing Harper, a left-handed hitter, to avoid having him pitch to the right-handed Nick Castellanos for a third time.

But then Manaea found his rhythm again. He struck out Harper on three pitches—a left-on-left changeup followed by two sweepers. That success gave Mendoza the confidence to keep him in the game.

"Once he got Harper, I thought he had the momentum back," Mendoza remarked.

Manaea kept pressing, taking a 0-2 lead on Castellanos, who fouled off two pitches before lining a third—an outside changeup—to second baseman Jose Iglesias. Iglesias flipped the ball to shortstop Francisco Lindor for a crucial, inning-ending double play. Manaea celebrated with two roars as the crowd at Citi Field erupted.

"He was on the attack," Mendoza noted. "His mound presence, his demeanor—it was just different today. I'm really proud of him."

Manaea, who made a midseason adjustment to a lower arm slot, is experiencing significant success just before hitting free agency this winter. He also sought some revenge with this performance, as just two years ago, the Phillies had pummeled him for five runs in 1⅓ innings during Game 4 of the NLDS while he was with the San Diego Padres, marking the low point of his career. That night, desperate for answers, he emailed Driveline Baseball, a renowned player development organization.

"That moment was pretty much rock bottom for me," Manaea reflected.

On Tuesday, he reached his peak in a day he will never forget.