Kodai Senga slapped the dugout railing in a raw display of emotion, a most unexpected Game 1 starter pumping his fist during an eighth-inning comeback that — have you followed these New York Mets? New York has mastered the art of the late rally,

After Wheeler held them to no runs and one hit in seven innings, the Mets unloaded against the Phillies' vaunted bullpen to win Game 1, 6-2.

But Wheeler could only watch as the eighth disintegrated in a crushing blow – or from the Mets’ perspective, a distillation of exquisite playoff persistence. Francisco Alvarez, after a first-pitch strike, singled off Jeff Hoffman. Francisco Lindor, down 0-2, worked a walk. Vientos, down 0-2, turned a meaty 1-2 slider into center for an RBI single.