The Mets, Like the '98 Yankees, Dominate in the Clutch

The New York Mets pulled off another late-inning comeback to take a 1-0 lead in the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets scored five runs in the eighth and ninth innings to win 7-2.

The New York Mets are proving to be just as dominant in the clutch as the legendary 1998 New York Yankees. On Saturday, the Mets pulled off their third late-inning comeback in six days to take a 1-0 lead in the National League Division Series against their NL East rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Mets trailed 2-0 with two outs in the ninth inning when Mark Vientos hit a single to drive in Brandon Nimmo. That was followed by a two-run homer by Pete Alonso, giving the Mets a 3-2 lead.

The Mets, Like the '98 Yankees, Dominate in the Clutch

The Mets added two more runs in the eighth inning on an RBI single by Nimmo and a sacrifice fly by J.D. Martinez. They tacked on two more in the ninth on an RBI single by Starling Marte and a sacrifice fly by Nimmo.

The Mets' victory was made possible by a dominant performance from their bullpen. David Peterson, Reed Garrett, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek combined to allow just two hits and no runs over the final five innings.

The Mets, Like the '98 Yankees, Dominate in the Clutch

The Phillies bullpen, on the other hand, was unable to hold the lead. Jeff Hoffman gave up three runs without recording an out, and Matt Strahm allowed two more runs.

The Mets' Game 1 victory was a major upset, as the Phillies were considered the favorite. The Phillies have the pitching advantage in Game 2, but the Mets have shown that they are a team that cannot be counted out.

The Mets, Like the '98 Yankees, Dominate in the Clutch

The Mets' comeback victory was reminiscent of their miraculous win over the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card Game on Monday. In that game, the Mets trailed 3-0 in the eighth inning and 7-6 in the ninth inning before Alonso hit a three-run homer to give the Mets the win.

The Mets' ability to win close games is a testament to their mental toughness and their never-say-die attitude. The Phillies will need to be at their best to beat the Mets in Game 2, but the Mets have shown that they are a team that is capable of anything.

Here's a detailed breakdown of the Mets' comeback victory:

* In the eighth inning, Nimmo led off with a single and stole second. He advanced to third on a groundout by Eduardo Escobar and scored on a single by Vientos.

* Alonso followed with a two-run homer to give the Mets a 3-2 lead.

* In the ninth inning, Marte led off with a single and advanced to second on a groundout by Jeff McNeil. He scored on a single by Nimmo.

* Escobar followed with a walk, and both he and Nimmo advanced on a single by Martinez. Escobar scored on a sacrifice fly by Vientos, and Nimmo scored on a sacrifice fly by Nimmo.

The Mets' victory was a major boost to their confidence, and they will look to carry that momentum into Game 2. The Phillies, on the other hand, will need to rebound from their disappointing loss. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday at 4:08 p.m. ET in Philadelphia.