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Mark Vientos is currently the Mets’ main man
Utah

Mark Vientos is currently the Mets’ main man

PHILADELPHIA – Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso are the biggest names and biggest stars on the Queens team. They are 1 and 1A on your list of orange-blue lights.

But young Mark Vientos is now the leading man. There is no denying this and there is no doubt about it.

The boy who always thought and said he could make money is making it big on the biggest stage. And if he had just a little more help, the Mets would go home in a commanding position after Philly’s rousing 7-6 walk-off win on Sunday, rather than tied a game at a time.

Vientos hit two tie-breaking two-run homers, including one that tied the game in the ninth. He also had five doubles and walks that had the potential to be considered an all-time great Mets performance if only the Mets had persevered. Vientos provided the Mets’ best everyday late-game heroics, but this time the Phillies beat the Mets at their own game, delivering three late-game turnovers to even reach the Division Series.

Mark Vientos #27 of the New York Mets reacts as he rounds the bases on his two-run home run. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Vientos — the kid who was demoted to Syracuse twice this year and never complained — feels unstoppable right now. He is the best the Mets have to offer right now.

“I’m focused. “I’m focused on getting the job done and doing whatever I can to help the team,” Vientos said.

There’s no question who the Phillies (and every other team in their future) should plan against in October. This is Vientos, the young man with the magic bat who appears to have the potential to carry the Mets well into October.

Other batsmen had difficulty seeing through the shadows at the start of those first two games as both were playing at dusk. Not this child who needs supervision.

Moments can be overwhelming for children during this time, but he makes them his own. Vientos seems to enjoy the spotlight. This is the best type of player you can have in New York.

Mark Vientos #27 of the New York Mets hits a two-run home run in the 9th inning to tie the game. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Assist outstanding Phillies manager Rob Thomson on Vientos’ second pitch. Thomson brought in left-hander Matt Strahm to try to finish things off at the top of the Mets’ lineup when one of the two right-handers made more sense – Jeff Hoffman, who relieved Strahm, or closer Carlos Estevez, who pitched the eighth inning.

Not only is Lindor better as a right-handed hitter, but Vientos is also the death knell for left-handed hitters, as Phillies Game 2 starter Cristopher Sanchez learned by allowing Vientos’ first two extra-base hits. But really, don’t blame Thomson too much. Credit to the Mets for their usual late-game rally.

Whatever the other team tries, Vientos, one of the few key Mets to start the year in Triple A, appears to be hovering throughout October.

“It was a crazy game. Both teams fought. And I look forward to returning to Citi Field,” Vientos said.

He said it felt “surreal.” But even if it doesn’t quite qualify as surreal, it’s at least a surprise. For us and for them.

Mark Vientos, pictured second from right, celebrates in the Mets dugout on Oct. 6. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Vientos had earned a spot on the team with a good spring performance in Port St. Lucie, but it would take a lot to beat Brett Baty, who was generally more highly regarded. It still looked like he was going to make the team, but then they brought in his buddy and hitting partner from South Florida, veteran stabilizer JD Martinez, and suddenly he was headed to Syracuse. He came up briefly, hit a game-winning home run, and then was sent back down. He handled everything wonderfully.

The Mets hitting coaches deserve credit for making him so good. This also applies to Phillies star Bryce Harper, who had some words of wisdom in a first-base chat earlier this year.

The Phillies know baseball, and you didn’t think the Phillies would go so quietly, did you?

No, me neither.

The Phillies are too good to lay a complete postseason egg. So their late comeback win — beating the Mets at their own game — shouldn’t be a surprise.

The Mets are generally returning to Queens with a good feeling. But one thing that has the Mets worried is star reliever Edwin Diaz. The man they called “Sugar” for obvious reasons (he’s absolutely adorable) left a sour taste after the Phillies piled up three runs on him to take the lead before Vientos scored the equalizer.

You can’t blame Diaz too much for catapulting perennial October hero Harper into the starting lineup of the Phillies’ eighth season. The Mets had a one-run lead and Harper hit a home run just two innings earlier to make it a game. But a single by Nick Castellanos and a hard-hit triple by Bryson Stott down the right field line gave the Phillies the lead. An inning later, Castellanos got the win on walks from Tylor Megill to Trea Turner and Harper.

Castellanos had a nice game and scored three goals. But he didn’t fit Vientos. Nobody can do that at the moment.

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