Close games, late-inning heroics. Walk-offs. The heart can only take so much. And there’s already been a lot.
The Mets have set an MLB record by playing in four straight postseason games in which the team with the lead entering the eighth inning has lost the game.
The previous record had been two, according to ESPN.
Mets fans will remember some of these games more fondly than others.
Wild Card series, Game 2: Phil Maton surrenders two home runs in the eighth inning that give the Brewers a 5-3 win and prevents a sweep.
Wild Card series, Game 3: In the words of the great Howie Rose: “Pete Alonso keeps this fairytale season going with the fairytale swing of his career.”
With the Mets trailing, 2-0, in the ninth, Alonso drives a changeup down from elite closer Devin Williams over the right-field wall, David Peterson tosses a scoreless ninth inning and, voila, the Mets are Philadelphia-bound for the NLDS.
Divisional series, Game 1: But wait, there’s more!
Phillies ace Zack Wheeler racks up nine strikeouts across seven innings of shutout baseball.
And then…
The Mets put up a five spot in the eighth and tack on one more, for good measure, in the ninth. Mark Vientos, Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, Starling Marte and J.D. Martinez all tally RBIs.
Game 1 belongs to the Mets.
Divisional Series, Game 2: Nick Castellanos prevents a possible 2-0 Mets series lead with a ninth-inning walk-off single. The Phillies top the Mets, 7-6, and knot the series, 1-1.
The Mets and Phillies square off next in Queens on Tuesday evening.
First pitch is set for 5:08 p.m.