After so many white-knuckle finishes during the two-week road trip that launched this playoff run, the Mets mostly spared their fans the late-inning drama, but made this highly-improbable, yet hotly-anticipated homecoming worth the wait.

Sixteen days had passed since the Mets last played a game at Citi Field. After a 7-2 win over the Phillies in Game 3 before a raucous sold-out crowd, everyone agreed it was worth the wait.