In a thrilling matchup at London Stadium, the Philadelphia Phillies emerged victorious with a 7-2 win over the New York Mets in the opening game of Major League Baseball's third London Series. Bryce Harper, the star outfielder for the Phillies, stole the show with a game-tying home run and an energetic soccer slide celebration.

Harper's powerful swing in the sixth inning ignited a four-run rally for the Phillies. The team's offense was further bolstered by Whit Merrifield's three-run homer, propelling Philadelphia to their fourth consecutive victory and their seventh win in their last eight games. Harper himself narrowly missed achieving a cycle, falling just a triple short.

Adding to the Phillies' dominating performance, Nick Castellanos blasted a home run in the eighth inning, ensuring the ball stayed within the left-field foul pole at London Stadium, the home of Premier League club West Ham.

On the pitching side, Ranger Suárez showcased his prowess, becoming the first pitcher this season to reach 10 victories. Suárez allowed two runs and eight hits over 5⅔ innings, setting the stage for the Phillies' success. Phillies manager Rob Thomson also achieved a personal milestone, notching his 200th regular-season win (200-137) as a manager.

The game began with Starling Marte's RBI double in the first inning, putting the Mets in an early lead. However, Harper quickly turned the tide, smashing a home run off Mets pitcher Sean Manaea to tie the game. Harper celebrated by executing a soccer slide in front of the Phillies dugout and exclaiming "I love soccer!" while sharing high-fives with his teammates.

The momentum continued for the Phillies as Edmundo Sosa's two-out single pushed them ahead 2-1. Merrifield then extended the lead with his third home run of the season, sending the ball into the Phillies bullpen. Kyle Schwarber further capitalized on Manaea's struggles, driving in another run with an RBI single.

Manaea endured a challenging outing, allowing six runs and seven hits over his time on the mound. This performance raised his ERA from 3.16 to 4.30 and mirrored a difficult start in Mexico City last year with the San Francisco Giants.

Despite a commendable effort from Francisco Lindor, who recorded two hits and a walk, the Mets were unable to match the Phillies' offensive prowess. The Mets, who had won their previous three games, acted as the home team for Saturday's game and will assume the role of the road team for the series finale on Sunday.

Pitchers on both teams were relieved by the cooler weather in London, as previous encounters held scorching temperatures that led to high-scoring games in 2019 and last year. The game kicked off with the temperature at 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius).

The London Series also witnessed a notable record, as Justin Steele of the Chicago Cubs set the mark for the longest outing by a starting pitcher in London last year with six innings pitched in a 9-1 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals.

As the series continues to captivate baseball fans across the Atlantic, the Phillies' performance in the opening game has set the bar high for both teams. With Harper leading the charge, Philadelphia will aim to extend their winning streak and secure a series victory against the Mets in London.