Phillies hang on to NL East cushion thanks to Mets pinch-hitter’s walk-off heroics

It seemed all but certain that the Philadelphia Phillies' lead in the NL East would shrink to a single game over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night. That was before they got some help from an unlikely source.

The Phillies were likely already in New York by the time Sunday Night Baseball was winding down. Some of them may have even been watching the dramatic ending in Queens. The 28-13 Phillies left Miami with a 1.5-game lead in the division after their comeback fell short in extra innings to the Marlins.

Phillies hang on to NL East cushion thanks to Mets pinch-hitter’s walk-off heroics

The Atlanta Braves were up 3-2 in the ninth inning of Sunday Night Baseball, and they had a series sweep of the New York Mets in their sights. However, the Mets and Brandon Nimmo had other ideas.

Nimmo had started the game on the bench with sore ribs but came in to pinch-hit against the Braves' A.J. Minter. With a runner on second, the Mets outfielder took a 3-2 pitch and deposited it over the right-center field wall, electrifying Citi Field with a 4-3 walk-off victory.

Typically, Phillies fans wouldn't be celebrating any success had by their division rivals from the Big Apple. In this case, we can make an exception. If a Mets win means handing a loss to the Braves, who are hot on the heels of the Phillies for the division lead, Phillies faithful will take it.

It was the Mets' 19th win of the season, and sees their record climb closer to .500 at 19-20. They don't seem like a threat to the Phillies at the moment, 8.0 games back in the NL East.

It was a silver lining for the Phillies after a disappointing end to the weekend. Heading into Sunday, it looked like a sure bet for a sweep, with Zack Wheeler taking the hill for the finale against the Marlins. But the ace didn't have it, and the bats couldn't come up with one last big hit with the bases loaded in the top of the 10th.

Now the Phillies will face these same Mets, who are 4-6 in their last 10 games, for four straight in a home-and-home series beginning with two games in New York before heading home to Citizens Bank Park.