The Mets pulled out all the stops in their return to Citi Field on Tuesday night. Not only did Keith Hernandez throw out the first pitch, but Pete Alonso showed up at the stadium with the rally pumpkin, several Grimaces (including the original article) were in attendance, Seymour Weiner sent a video message of support to the team, and Glizzy Iggy the Dog got one Appearing on the big screen in a real-life Avengers-level meeting of the Mets totems in 2024.

And they seemed to be destroying the metropolises. Game 2 was an excruciating affair, even if the Mets struggled hardand they needed to get a lead over the Phillies in Game 3, especially coming home.

Compared to Game 2, Game 3 was a walk in the park. Pete Alonso immediately hit a solo home run in his first at-bat, Jesse Winker made his own walk around the bases in the fourth, and then Starling Marte, Jose Iglesias and Francisco Lindor all got in on the fun, putting seven runs on the ball board to go with them both Phillies. Sean Manaea had a monster outing for New York, limiting Philadelphia to just one run in seven innings and getting out of some tough situations.

Game 4 could put the NLDS on the Mets’ books, and if Hernandez and Co. give them a little more fire, then the first-pitch battery scheduled for Wednesday should do the same. Daniel Murphy will give way to Big Sexy himself, Bartolo Colón.

Bartolo Colón and Daniel Murphy will handle ceremonial first pitch duties for Mets-Phillies NLDS Game 4

Murphy will be best remembered by Mets fans for his exploits in the 2015 NLDS and CS (he was the CS MVP that year), when he broke the Mets record for postseason home runs and became the first player in the MLB history with a home game was appearing in six straight postseason games. But if that wasn’t enough of a lucky charm, Colón, who decided to step down as a Met last season despite spending more time in Cleveland and Anaheim during his career, makes this a dream duo.

The Mets can wrap things up on Wednesday night and get some more rest before facing the Dodgers or Padres (let’s be honest, probably the Padres) in the NLCS. The ghosts of Murphy, Colón, Grimace, Seymour Weiner and the Rally Pumpkin are with them. Let’s get it done.