Mets win National League pennant, advance to fifth World Series

Amazin’. There really is no other word for it.

The New York Mets captured their fifth National League championship in franchise history Wednesday night, completing a dominant four-game sweep over the wild card Chicago Cubs with an 8-3 victory at Wrigley Field.

Across Queens, the city and the social media universe, fans quickly celebrated an outcome that seemed almost unthinkable back in July, when the Mets barely had a winning record and an offense that struggled every game to put up runs.

The Mets never trailed in any of the NLCS games. They got off to a fast start in Game 4, when first baseman Lucas Duda snapped out of a slump with a three-run home run, and catcher Travis d’Arnaud followed up with a solo shot of his own. They then tacked on two more runs in the top of the second.

The Cubs got to Mets starter Steven Matz in the fourth inning for a run, and would threaten to score in the innings that followed, but wasted one opportunity after another.

The Mets pulled away in the eighth inning, when the series MVP— second baseman Daniel Murphy—hit a two-run home run, the sixth straight postseason game in which he homered. The Cubs would tack on two in the bottom of the eighth, but would get no closer; Jeurys Familia would get the final three outs for the Mets in the ninth.

Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon along with club president Saul Katz and general manager Sandy Alderson were in Chicago to receive the Warren Giles Award, awarded to the National League champion, on behalf of the franchise. Fred Wilpon said the team had tremendous talent and character, and thanked the fans for their support.

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Queens native, expressed their joy in press releases issued following the Mets’ victory.

“The Amazins played with true grit, determination and heart – trademarks of every New Yorker – in clinching their first National League championship since 2000,” Katz said. “New York is united as one sea of blue and orange behind the Mets in this captivating run. The Mets have done all New Yorkers proud, redeeming millions of loyal fans and even inspiring a few more. It’s time to bring the World Series back to the ‘World’s Borough.'”

“For Mets fans everywhere, the long wait is over,” Cuomo added. “As a Queens native, I couldn’t be prouder that my hometown team is bound for the World Series. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I congratulate manager Terry Collins and the entire Mets organization on this tremendous accomplishment. They have made one of the most faithful fan bases in all of professional sports incredibly proud.”

Having locked up the National League title, the Mets will play the American League champion in the World Series. The Kansas City Royals currently hold a 3 games to 2 edge on the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series, with the next game scheduled for Friday night.

The Mets will head to the American League champion’s ballpark for the first two games of the World Series, which begins Tuesday night. Citi Field in Flushing will then host its first World Series game on Friday, Oct. 30.