New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea took the mound for Game 3 of the NLDS at Citi Field, carrying a personal weight heavier than any postseason pressure. Just hours before the crucial matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies, Manaea learned of his aunt’s passing.
Despite the heartbreaking news, Manaea turned in the best performance of his career, throwing seven stellar innings that helped the Mets secure a 7-2 victory. He struck out six, allowed only three hits, walked two, and gave up just one earned run, silencing the Phillies’ powerful lineup in the process.
After being pulled from the game, Manaea looked to the sky and kissed the air, a touching tribute to his late Aunt Mabel.
“That was for my Aunt Mabel,” Manaea said in a post-game interview. “I got the news this morning that she passed away, and I just wanted to dedicate this game to her.”
With the victory, the Mets now lead the series 2-1 and are just one win away from advancing to the NLCS for the first time since 2015.
Redemption Against the Phillies in the Playoffs
Manaea’s performance is particularly significant considering his previous playoff encounter with the Phillies. In the 2022 NLCS, while pitching for the San Diego Padres, Manaea struggled in Game 4. After entering the game with a 6-4 lead, he gave up five earned runs in just 1 1/3 innings, including a game-tying home run by Rhys Hoskins and a go-ahead double by Bryce Harper. The Phillies went on to win that game 10-6, ending the Padres’ hopes of advancing.
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That rough outing marked a turning point in Manaea’s career. Determined to improve, he revamped his pitching mechanics in the offseason, working with Driveline, a cutting-edge player development organization. The hard work paid off, as Manaea became one of the Mets’ most reliable starters in 2024, finishing the regular season with a 12-6 record and a 3.47 ERA.
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