NEW YORK — Jeff McNeil stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning with runners at the corners and his team down by one.
McNeil, the Mets’ ever reliable hitter this season, was the perfect candidate to try to get at least Francisco Lindor, who was at third, home. He did the Mets two better.
The left fielder crushed Phillies starter Zach Eflin’s 93-mph sinker and sent it straight to the Coca Cola corner. It was the perfect catalyst in the Mets’ eventual 8-2 win over the Phillies and their hapless defense.