PHILADELPHIA — The waiting game had begun.
As the Mets left the field Friday night, following a 5-1 victory over the Phillies, their magic number to clinch a National League wild-card berth had shrunk to one. All eyes turned toward St. Louis, where a Cardinals loss to the Pirates would mean a second straight postseason appearance for the Mets.
Robert Gsellman put the Mets on the brink of a champagne celebration with a fourth straight superb performance. The rookie righty allowed one run on seven hits over six innings on a windy night conducive to low-scoring — something the Mets may be exposed to next week.