A magical run for the Mets continues after New York’s 4-1 win over the Phillies in Game 4 of the NLDS and owner Steve Cohen is loving every second of it.
Speaking with SNY’s Steve Gelbs during the clubhouse celebration, Cohen was asked how he felt about the storybook Mets season continuing on.
“It just gets better and better. You gotta love what these guys are doing,” Cohen said. “They were getting guys on base every inning, and it was just a matter of time.”
Cohen was referencing the Mets’ futility with runners in scoring position in the early going of Wednesday's game. They had the bases loaded in each of the first two innings but could not get that big hit off of Phillies starter Ranger Suarez.
The Phillies then took a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning when the Mets worked the bases loaded again. This time, Francisco Lindor was at the plate and delivered another memorable hit in his MVP-type season. This time, a go-ahead grand slam that blew the theoretical roof off Citi Field.
“This is pretty good. These guys keep taking their commitment and their performance to another level. We saw it again today,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns told Gelbs. “Fought through some tough at-bats early where we didn’t get the runs across. And then Francisco with the swing that everyone, I think, in the building thought he was going to have. It was incredible.
“Of course [it was Lindor]. Why not. In that situation, he comes through over and over again,” he said. “It’s amazing. The fans were going crazy. Fans were here tonight, they were all over it.”
Since Cohen bought a controlling stake in the team in 2020, he and Lindor have been attached due to the shortstop being the first big signing during his ownership. Cohen inked Lindor to a 10-year, $341 million contract after the 2020 season and it’s paying off now.
“That 341 (million) is looking pretty freakin' good right now,” Cohen told the the New York Post’s Mike Puma.
But this postseason run and the atmosphere at Citi Field is a dream come true for Cohen.
“I’ve been waiting for this for years,” Cohen said. “I wanted this place packed. I want to slay the negative Met fan perception and we’re on our way to doing that. Let’s keep it going.”
With Wednesday's win, the Mets now advance to the NLCS for the first time since 2015. They will travel to California to take on the winner of the Padres-Dodgers series, with Game 1 set for Sunday.