Bad news doesn’t knock; it barges in and it crashes unannounced. That’s how it arrived at the Manaea household. On Tuesday, just before Sean Manaea was going to play for probably the biggest game of his life, a call came to his home. Talat Manaea received the call, and the news came in like a shock—Sean’s beloved aunt Mabel, from Indiana, had passed away. Talat knew how much Sean adored his aunt. So she had to decide whether to share the news before the game! 

“I didn’t know if I should tell him or not,” Talat confessed. However, with a heavy heart, she told Sean. And well, instead of Sean letting his grief consume him, he channeled it. He ensured that pitch after pitch, inning after inning, he made his aunt proud. And well, on a high-octane game 3 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies, he made strides and won the game of his life—for her.

Sean Manaea delivers the game of his life

Sean Manaea’s performance at Game 3 was far more than baseball. He has had a tough time on the mound for the last couple of years. Manaea struggled after his disastrous 2022 postseason outing against the Phillies. He had given up five runs in just 1 ⅓ innings in that game, so he knew he had to change something. So he got in touch with Driveline Baseball, the high-tech player development program. He wanted a change! But then another shocker—his brother David passed away at age 59. But Sean didn’t stop. That same month, he signed with the New York Mets and asked to wear the No. 59 jersey. And now, his aunt passed before a crucial game.

So with a heavy heart, Sean Manaea took the mound in Game 3. Pitching through the grief, he gave the game of his life. Over seven innings, he allowed just one run on three hits, walked two, and struck out six. He helped the Mets take the 2-1 lead in the series. Manaea’s pitching was impressive, but the emotion was just palpable. Manaea was always seen kissing his hand and pointing to the sky, and it was to honor his late aunt. 

“That was for my aunt. Just got a message that she passed away early this morning. That game was for her.” Well, through the game, Manaea’s strength and perseverance put the New York Mets one win away from advancing to the NLDS. It has reminded everyone of the power of resilience—both on and off the field. Game 4 will take place at Citi Field. It’s on Wednesday, and Manaea will get to show his gameplay again.

Phillies on the brink of elimination

The Philadelphia Phillies just couldn’t get their bats going. And now they are facing elimination! Sean Manaea and the Mets took full advantage, crushing a 7-2 win in Game 3 of the NDLS. Manaea was completely unstoppable and kept the Phillies on the edge. On the offense, the Phillies just had no power. Bryce Harper just drove in one run, and the team was just 2 for 7 with runners in the scoring position. It was a tough day for the Phillies at large.

Offensively, the Mets had way more power. Pete Alonso and Jesse Winker set the tone with solo home runs very early on, while Starling Marte and Jose Iglesias added two runs in the sixth and seventh innings, changing the game. Then Lindor’s eight RBI gave the New York Mets a comfortable cushion for the game. The Phillies, though—their offense was nowhere to be found. It’s been a theme for the Phillies in the series—consistency at the plate has been a tough thing for them. 

The Phillies scored just two runs in both Games 1 and 3, their only big outburst being the seven-run Game 2 win. But the momentum has fizzled out. If Philly can’t get their bats going by Wednesday, they might not be back home for Game 5. The elimination is on the line and the clock is ticking. And the playoff hopes? That’s hanging by the thread. It’s a do-or-die time for the Phillies!