Orange rally towels of the same shade as Pete Alonsos Playoff Pumpkin twirled throughout Citi Field on Tuesday as Sean Manaea departed the mound in the eighth inning. The left-hander blew a ki s to the sky (directed toward his Aunt Mabel, whom he learned had pa sed away earlier in the day) and disappeared into the first-base dugout. The Mets were rolling in large part because of Manaea, and the acknowledgement from the sellout crowd of 44,093 was warranted following one of his best performances yet with the team and certainly on the biggest stage. Mets pitcher Sean Manaea reacts after getting the final out of the sixth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Mets pitcher Sean Manaea #59 throws a pitch during the first inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Manaea mastered the Phillies with one run allowed over seven innings, carrying the Mets to a 7-2 victory in Game 3 of the NLDS. Explore More One victory separates the Mets from the National League Championship Series, and there are two roads to arrive there. The easy road would entail beating the Phillies in Game 4 on Wednesday and enjoying downtime before heading to the west coast to face the Padres or Dodgers. The Mets are now one win away from the NLCS. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post The harder route means losing Wednesday and needing to win a Game 5 back in Philadelphia. The Mets have never clinched a postseason berth or series at home in the 16 seasons of Citi Fields existence. We want to be able to go out there and celebrate and win, Starling Marte said. Manaea allowed only three hits and struck out six with two walks and two hit batters over seven-plus innings and 91 pitches. It was the best outing by a Mets starting pitcher this postseason and alleviated the pre sure on a bullpen that was bloodied in a Game 2 lo s on Sunday. I havent had the most amazing career, Manaea said. But through the ups and downs and through the hardships, thats what makes games like this mean so much. Its part of the work Ive Landry Shamet Jersey been able to do, not just myself, the whole team. Manager Carlos Mendoza allowed Manaea to return to the mound for the eighth after seven shutout innings. Ryne Stanek closed the door in Game 3 of the NLDS. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post But after Edmundo Sosa reached on an infield single leading off the inning, Manaea was removed. Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek combined to get three outs in the inning with two runs scoring. to produce the games first run. Mets first baseman Pete Alonso #20 flips his bat as he rounds the bases on his solo home run during the second inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Alonsos blast was his sixth in 51 career at-bats against Aaron Nola, his most facing any pitcher, and his third in four games beginning with Thursdays go-ahead shot in Milwaukee that helped the Mets clinch the NL Wild Card Series. Je se Winkers homer with two outs in the fourth gave the Mets a 2-0 lead. In his previous at-bat, Winker just mi sed clearing the right-field fence, with Nick Castellanos racing to the wall for the catch. Follow The Posts coverage of the Mets playoff run: Mets outfielder Je se Winker #3 reacts as he rounds the bases on his solo home run during the fourth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Comedian Jerry Seinfeld cheers on with fans as the Mets introduce their starting lineup. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post But in the fourth, Winker left no doubt after jumping on a 2-1 fastball. The Phillies threatened against Manaea in the third: Sosa was plunked and Trea Turner delivered a two-out single. But Manaea escaped the threat by getting Bryce Harper on a comebacker. Manaea got defensive help in the fourth, when attempting to stretch a single into a double. Starling Marte (6) hits a two RBI single scoring Pete Alonso (20) and Brandon Nimmo (9) in the sixth inning of Game 3. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Manaea celebrated as he left the mound in the sixth, after Castellanos line drive to Jose Iglesias became an inning-ending double play. Manaea walked Kyle Schwarber and Turner in succe sion to begin the inning, but struck out Harper before Schwarber was caught off second on Castellanos liner. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Mendoza said he considered removing Manaea after the two walks. But then he got Harper there, I thought he had his momentum back. Mendoza said. I have always liked his presence and especially today, his demeanor on the mound. He was always on the attack, from the first pitch. Starling Marte delivered a big two-RBI single in Game 3. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Marte stroked a two-run single in the sixth that widened the gap to 4-0. Mark Vientos singled leading off the inning and Brandon Nimmo and Alonso walked in succe sion to load the bases, ending Nolas outing. Orion Kerkering entered and got two outs without a run scoring, but Marte delivered. Manaea responded by retiring the side in order in the seventh, including a strikeout of Austin Hays to end the inning. He trusted his stuff, Mendoza said. He trusted the game plan and didnt back away from it. Mets pitcher Sean Manaea #59 reacts as he walks back to the dugout after being pulled from the game during the 8th inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Iglesias gave the Mets a cushion by swatting a two-run single in the bottom of the inning that extended the lead to 6-0. Vientos singled in the inning and Nimmo and Alonso each walked to load the bases. When you put the ball in play good things happen and it shows there for Marte, it shows there for me, Iglesias said. The whole team did a great job competing that inning. It was pretty special. 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