FRANCISCO Lindor hit the go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) for the New York Mets, who beat the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win their National League Division Series three games to one.
New York will face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres in the NL Championship Series beginning Sunday (Monday in Manila) on the road in a best-of-seven series.
Lindor’s grand slam came after five frustrating innings for the Mets, who left the bases loaded in the first and second against Ranger Suarez. Phillies reliever Jeff Hoffman (1-2) left with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth, and Carlos Estevez served up Lindor’s homer.
David Peterson (1-0), the Mets’ third pitcher on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), earned the win with 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Edwin Diaz notched the save by working around a pair of walks in the ninth.
In other games, it was the Yankees 3, Royals 2; and Tigers 3, Guardians 0.
Yankees 3, Royals 2
Giancarlo Stanton hit a long go-ahead home run in the eighth inning to lead New York past host Kansas City in Game 3 of their American League Division Series, giving the Yankees a 2-1 lead in the series.
Stanton finished 3-for-5, driving in another run with a double and adding a stolen base. His 12th career postseason homer, a 417-foot shot to left field against left-hander Kris Bubic (0-1)–who had not allowed a run in three previous appearances during this year’s postseason.
New York’s bullpen, with Luke Weaver getting the final five outs for his second postseason save, kept the Royals scoreless after the fifth inning. Tommy Kahnle (1-0) got the victory with 1 1/3 perfect innings in relief after following starter Clarke Schmidt and Clay Holmes to the mound.
Tigers 3, Guardians 0
Riley Greene, Matt Vierling and Spencer Torkelson each drove in a run and six pitchers combined on a second straight shutout to give host Detroit a victory over Cleveland in Game 3 of the American League Division Series.
Starter Keider Montero and relievers Brant Hurter (1-0), Beau Brieske, Sean Guenther, Will Vest and Tyler Holton limited the Guardians to six hits and two walks as the Tigers took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
Detroit–which has not allowed a run over the last 20 innings–moved one victory away from its first visit to the AL Championship Series since 2013. Game 4 is set for Thursday (Friday in Manila) in Detroit. Cleveland starter Alex Cobb (0-1) gave up three hits and two runs over three innings.
