Mets beat Phillies to clinch top WC spot

On a rainy Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia, the New York Mets punched their ticket to the Wild Card game by defeating the Phillies, 5-3. Players and personnel later came onto the field to celebrate with the large contingent of Mets fans in Philadelphia.

Ryan Howard isn’t sure what to expect when he likely plays his final game in a Phillies uniform on Sunday.

Loney went 2-for-4 and blasted his ninth homer of the year – and second in three games – to give the Mets a 4-2 lead.

But at least Howard gave the Phillies fans in the house something to cheer about for a short while.

“It was cool”, Howard said. “Tried to spoil it for them a little bit today but they got us and you’ve gotta congratulate those guys because they’ve scratched and clawed”. “That’s a good ball club”.

SEATTLE – Seattle blasted four early home runs and kept alive their slim playoff chances.

It might have been his last as a Phillie.

Past year the Mets won the NL East and advanced all the way to the World Series before losing to the Kansas City Royals. The crowd wanted a curtain call, but Howard would need some prying. The right-hander allowed two hits in his first start since 2014 with Houston.

The Phillies will not pick up Howard’s contract option for 2017.

The Mets regained the lead in the next inning when Loney drove a 3-1 pitch from reliever David Hernandez into the right-field seats. So what does Howard know about the day ahead?

I have so much I want to say, so much I want to write, but I can’t get it all straight because, in the end, I’m literally stunned. “You can see their excitement and their passion, and we play off that”. I’ll definitely take it in.

The Cardinals walked off with a win Thursday night when umpires ruled that Reds manager Bryan Price was too slow to ask for a review of Yadier Molina’s game-winning double. I just show up. He admitted it was a “cool” moment, but said his mind was simply focused on trying to do his best to beat the Mets on Saturday. I’ll embrace it. I’ll look forward to it. “I’ve been fortunate enough to go the playoffs three times”.

I shouldn’t have to tell you why it would be satisfying for the Phillies to knock the Mets out of the playoffs. Team officials ultimately opted to withhold Syndergaard from the game entirely and instead have him throw off a bullpen mound.

“We’re certainly limping home”, manager Pete Mackanin said. He’s waiting to experience a celebration of his own. It’s great. That’s why we play.

Howard will turn 37 in November. Mets are 15-2 after an off day. The AL owns home-field advantage in the World Series thanks to its win in the All-Star Game. I mean, I hoped it would happen, I rooted for it to happen and I’ll always believe anything is possible, especially for the Mets.