NEW YORK – Before the New York Mets gathered for another celebratory team photo Wednesday night after another thrilling postseason victory extended this dream season into the National League Championship Series, Francisco Lindor made a point of hugging as many people as possible.

The star of the evening thanks to a grand slam that kicked things off, the cornerstone of the franchise paid as a cornerstone of the franchise for these evenings and bounced from hug to hug across the lawn of Citi Field. There was a warm hug with Alex Cohen, wife of owner Steve Cohen, who was in tears. There were daps with teammates and coaches and support staff.

Finally, before rushing to the mound for the team photo, there was an extended hug by second base with Brandon Nimmo, the tallest player on the roster. The shortstop and outfielder squeezed tight. Nimmo pressed his face into Lindor’s shoulder. Tears welled up in his eyes.

“It is very difficult to put into words what we have experienced behind closed doors,” Nimmo said. “And so to be able to experience this together, it’s very emotional. We’re trying to enjoy every second of this.”

After Lindor’s sixth-inning slam, the Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in Game 4 of the NL Division Series to reach the NLCS for the first time since 2015. There is still more work to be done, eight more wins to be achieved. goal of hoisting the franchise’s first World Series trophy since 1986. But Wednesday’s victory weighed heavily. The emotions showed that.

“This is great,” Lindor said. “This is a great day.”

By winning the series 3-1, the Mets clinched a playoff series at Citi Field for the first time in the ballpark’s 15-year history and a series at home for the first time since the 2000 NLCS. They’ll board a cross-country flight Sunday to play Game 1 of the NLCS in San Diego or Los Angeles, a fact that seemed unfathomable five months ago.

The Mets started the season 0-5. They lost 15 of 19 games in May and fell 11 games below .500, a disastrous stretch that culminated in reliever Jorge Lopez throwing his glove into the home crowd during a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 29.

The situation was so dire that Lindor called a players-only meeting. Since then, New York has gone 72-42.

“Nobody has us even close right now,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “And that we celebrate it here at home for our fan base, that Lindor comes through in this way, what a story. I keep saying it.”

The story centers on Grimace, a purple fast-food mascot who some believe started a seven-game winning streak with his first pitch in June. It includes a World War II veteran named Seymour Weiner who became an internet sensation after being honored in April. It includes Jose Iglesias, a veteran infielder who did not play in the Majors last season, started the year in Triple A, was called up two days after the players’ meeting on the last day of May, became an integral player on the While a number he a month later became the team’s anthem, he will release a remix of the song with Pitbull on Friday. It includes “OMG” signs and a good luck pumpkin and emotional support eye black.

Most importantly, it features a seemingly endless supply of clutch hits.

On Wednesday it was Lindor’s turn again. Nearly a month after a back injury emerged that put his season in jeopardy and 12 days after he kicked off a two-run home run in the Mets’ playoff victory over the Atlanta Braves, Lindor stepped up to the plate in the sixth inning . with the bases loaded.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson called Carlos Estevez, his closer, to meet with Lindor. The aggressive move backfired. Estevez fell behind 2-1 and dug a 99 mph fastball over the plate. Lindor hit it 400 feet into the visiting bullpen.

“That 341 is looking pretty good right now,” Steve Cohen told The New York Post, referring to Lindor’s contract.

Lindor didn’t turn his bat over. He didn’t shout. He didn’t explode with emotion. That wasn’t necessary. After hearing boos from the home crowd in April for his slow start, the $341 million shortstop was surrounded by hysteria in October.

“I remember putting my hands up,” Mets first baseman Pete Alonso said. “My hands were just in the air. I was just in awe. That was an incredible swing. That was the swing of a lifetime. That’s what you practice in the backyard as a kid.”

Up until that point in the game, the theme of the evening was the Mets’ missed opportunities. New York left the bases loaded in the first and second inning against Ranger Suarez. They went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base through five innings. Suárez, after throwing 53 pitches in the first two innings, somehow came through in the fifth by collecting all six of his strikeouts with his curveball.

“I remember putting my hands up. My hands were just in the air. I was just in awe. That was an incredible swing. That was the swing of a lifetime. That’s what you practice as a kid in the backyard .”

Pete Alonso on Francisco Lindor’s grand slam

The Phillies, meanwhile, scored a run against Jose Quintana in the fourth inning. Bryce Harper drew a walk with one out. Nick Castellanos doubled on the next pitch. Then Alec Bohm hit a dribbler to third baseman Mark Vientos, who bobbled the ball and didn’t make a play. Harper scored and the Phillies led 1-0 with just one hit.

The unearned run was the only damage Philadelphia could take against Quintana, a 35-year-old southpaw who entered the night with an 0.63 ERA over his seven starts since August 25. He held Philadelphia to one run on two hits and two walks. He has yet to allow a run in 11 postseason innings.

Quintana was in the trainer’s room beginning his recovery treatment when his teammates were threatened again in the sixth inning. It started with a leadoff single by JD Martinez off All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman. Starling Marte was hit by a pitch and Tyrone Taylor walked to empty the bases for the third time.

The first attempt at breakthrough went to Francisco Alvarez. He grounded into a fielder’s choice at home plate. Next came Lindor.

“The whole time I was thinking, this is who we are,” Mendoza said. “This is part of the story. This is part of the book, the movie, whatever you want to call it. And when he connected with that ball, I just wanted him to enjoy it and see the guys up and down jumping. It was difficult for us to score points in this game, Lindor, our MVP.”

Lindor’s blast gives the Mets four wins from the sixth pennant in franchise history. It’s the success he envisioned when he signed his 10-year, $341 million contract extension on the eve of Opening Day in 2021, three months after the Mets acquired him from Cleveland. And it’s the success Nimmo envisioned when the Mets drafted him in the first round a decade earlier.

The turbulence along the way made Wednesday so memorable. The reason why Lindor was running around hugging people. The reason why Nimmo shed tears. The job isn’t over yet, but the Mets enjoyed this move.

“I love them because they believe in me,” Lindor said. “I really believe in each of them. I believe that everyone can do something special at any time.”