Lindor grand slam ends Phillies season 4-1; Mets head to NLCS

One pitch wiped out six months of success, as Francisco Lindor sent a Carlos Estevez fastball soaring into Philadelphia’s bullpen for a sixth-inning grand slam.

“I knew it right away,” Estévez said after Wednesday night’s 4-1 loss to the New York Mets ended the NL Division Series in four games and sent the Phillies home for the winter.

Sixteen years and counting without a World Series title. And in each of the last three seasons, Bryce Harper & Co. keep getting knocked out further from the trophy.

Philadelphia reached Game 6 of the 2022 World Series before losing to Houston. It seemed to be on the verge of success with an offense anchored by Harper, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Trea Turner and Nick Castellanos, and a rotation headed by Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler.

The Phillies started 46-20 this year to open a 10-game division lead and finished 95-67 to win the NL East for the first time since 2011.

The Mets await the outcome of the Dodgers-Padres series for the National League championship.



(AP Photo Adam Hunger)