- The Mets advanced to the NLCS after beating the Phillies on Wednesday night
- And there were wild celebrations after the team won at Citi Field
The champagne was flowing in the Mets’ locker room on Wednesday night after they beat the Phillies 4-1 to advance to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2015.
After a season that began with an 0-5 start and saw the Mets 11 games under .500 in June, New York’s fairytale season has raged on after they moved past Philadelphia in four games.
And the ensuing celebrations afterwards were understandably wild as a raucous locker room sprayed alcohol all over – as is tradition after winning an MLB playoff series.
Pictures from New York show the champagne and beer-soaked scenes, with many players wearing goggles to protect their eyes.
An ‘OMG’ sign also made its way to the locker room, in honor of the hit song – performed by infielder Jose Iglesias – which has become an anthem for the team and its fans this season.
The Mets celebrate in the locker room after beating the Phillies 4-1 in Game 4 of the NLDS
An ‘OMG’ sign – in honor of Jose Martinez’s hit song – was passed around the locker room
The Mets had not won a playoff series in their home stadium since 2000 at Shea Stadium
A video from the MLB on Fox X account even showed the team singing the song aloud following their massive win.
Outfielder Starling Marte even brought the champagne showers to the stands shortly after the game had concluded as he sprayed fans behind home plate with a massive smile on his face.
The win marks the team’s first clinching celebration in Citi Field’s 16-season history.
The last time the Mets won a playoff series in their own ballpark was the 2000 NLCS at Shea Stadium.
With tears in his eyes, outfielder Brandon Nimmo embraced shortstop Francisco Lindor as the Mets poured onto the field in excitement following the final out.
‘This is the kind of stuff that I was dreaming about,’ Nimmo said in a clubhouse interview shown on the giant videoboard in center. ‘This has been a long time coming. We wanted it so bad for our fan base.’
Mets 1B Pete Alonso (right) and OF Harrison Bader celebrate in the locker room
Starling Marte sprays champagne into the stands after the Mets beat the Phillies
Mets shortstop Luisangel Acuna (2) celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the Phillies
Lindor hit a grand slam in the sixth inning, his latest clutch swing in a storybook season full of them, and the New York Mets reached the NLCS with a 4-1 victory over the Phillies on Wednesday.
Edwin Díaz struck out Kyle Schwarber with two runners aboard to end it as New York finished off the rival Phillies in Game 4 of their best-of-five Division Series, winning 3-1 to wrap up a postseason series at home for the first time in 24 years.
‘I want to win it all. And ours will be a team that will forever be remembered,’ Lindor said, speaking in the interview room with one of his young daughters on his lap drinking from a Gatorade bottle.
‘This will be a team that comes every 10 years and eats for free everywhere they go. And I want to do that. I want to do that. But the job is not done.’
After three days of rest, New York will open the best-of-seven NLCS on Sunday at the San Diego Padres or Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers tied up the series at 2-2 with a 8-0 Game 4 win on Wednesday.
Alonso is seen spraying champagne in the Mets’ clubhouse after advancing to the NLCS
New York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz (39) reacts after ending the NLDS with a strikeout
‘Let’s keep this thing rolling!’ Mets slugger Pete Alonso told reveling fans still in the stands when he popped out of the clubhouse party for an on-field interview with his large goggles protecting his eyes. ‘So proud of this group. We’ve overcome so much.’
New York is chasing its third World Series championship and first since 1986.
‘I want to slay the negative Met fan perceptions, and we´re on our way to doing that,’ owner Steve Cohen said.
For the NL East champion Phillies, who won 95 games and finished six ahead of the wild-card Mets during the regular season, it was a bitter exit early in the playoffs and a disappointing step backward after they advanced to the 2022 World Series and then lost Games 6 and 7 of the 2023 NLCS at home to Arizona.
