Major League Baseball coverage from the London Stadium, where the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies battle it out in the second of a two-game series
The Phillies beat the Mets 7-2 in yesterday's opener
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets 7-2 in the opening game of Major League Baseball's London Series at London Stadium.
The game was decided by an explosive six-run fourth inning for the Phillies which resulted in the Mets' starting pitcher Sean Manaea being pulled.
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BBC Sport
Major League Baseball returns to the UK this weekend with another of the league's biggest rivalries heading across the Atlantic with the Battle of the Broads.
That's the name given to the rivalry between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies - because of Broadway in New York and Broad Street in Philadelphia.
Who are favourites for MLB London?
With New York and Philadelphia 90 miles apart on the USA's east coast, their sports teams have long been rivals and after the Dodgers and Giants relocated from the Big Apple to the west coast in the 1950s, the Mets were formed in 1962 to fill the void.
As divisional rivals in the National League East, they and the Phillies - one of the MLB's oldest clubs having been founded in 1883 - have since faced each other more than 1,000 times, with the Phillies edging their head-to-head record (551-520).
Both are two-time winners of baseball's biggest prize - the World Series - with the Mets winning in 1969 and 1986, while the Phillies triumphed in 1980 and 2008.
Who are the players to watch?
Image source, Getty ImagesBryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies' is a two time winner of the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award and is widely considered to be one of the best players in Major League Baseball.
The Mets' payroll may be $309m (£241m), but the Phillies - who pay $246m (£192m) a year - signed Bryce Harper in 2019 on a then-record $330m, 13-year contract.
"As big a star as there is in the game", says Joe Posnanski, author of Why We Love Baseball. the first baseman often wears a headband featuring his nickname 'Showman'.
However, the Phillies' designated hitter Kyle Schwarber could be the player that UK fans "get the biggest kick out of".
"He's this big brute of a guy who goes up to the plate looking to do one thing and one thing only - hit the ball over the fence," Posnanski adds.
The Mets' power hitter is Pete Alonso, a burly first baseman nicknamed 'Polar Bear', while Puerto Rico shortstop Francisco Lindor is "certain to make a few dazzling plays".
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All times are stated in BST and subject to change
Major League Baseball returns to the UK this weekend with another of the league's biggest rivalries heading across the Atlantic as the New York Mets face the Philadelphia Phillies.
Sunday 9th June - MLB London Series Game Two (15:00 - 17:55)
New York Mets v Philadelphia Phillies - coverage available via the Red Button, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website
BBC Sport
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How do I start?
Find your nearest club using the Baseball Softball UK club finder, , externaland Get in the Game, , externalis where to go for introducing the game to beginners.
But what is softball?
One team is on offence, the other on defence. The team on offence take it in turns to hit the ball and run as far around the pitch as possible before the ball is caught by the other team. The defence team catch members of the opposing team out by catching the ball mid-air or throwing it to a member of their own team who is defending a base.
Is it for me?
It's a fast, fun and sociable game and you only need a glove, bat and ball to get started.
What to expect when I start?
