Mark Vientos continues his crazy journey with clutch Mets hit in NLDS Game 1

PHILADELPHIA — After eight days of playing nine total games, the Mets rested before the division series.Manager Carlos Mendoza called it a “reset” day, when some pitchers played catch, some players received treatment and just about everyone took a breath. Mark Vientos allowed himself a moment to look back at a season that hit rock bottom before it began and proceeded to ascend to the clouds. “It’s crazy because I think [Friday] was the first day I kind of like sat back and thought about what I’m doing,” Vientos said before the Mets and Phillies began the NLDS at Citizens Bank Park.

“Because when you’re in it, you don’t really look at it.You don’t even sit back and be like, ‘Oh, man.’ It’s like, all right, next, let’s keep winning, next at-bat, next pitch, next play. “But [Friday], we had the day off, and I kind of just sat back and I was like: ‘Man, this is crazy.’ ” The craziness only continued Saturday, when Vientos knocked two hits — his second a game-tying single in the eighth inning — in yet another stunning comeback win, this one 6-2 over the Phillies to steal Game 1 of the NLDS. Vientos seems to be in the middle of every Mets rally, an indispensable piece who continues to hit.

His journey to this moment surely makes it all the sweeter. Back in spring training, the Mets officially signed J.D.Martinez on March 23, which essentially ended Vientos’ bid at a major league job.

Vientos lost the DH competition to a free agent and the third-base job to Brett Baty.A player bent on proving himself in the majors after 81 MLB games the past two seasons, in which he did not hit much, would begin the year with Triple-A Syracuse. Follow The Post’s coverage of the Mets in the postseason:He crushed minor league pitching for 23 games before his first 2024 shot, called up at the end of April because Starling Marte was moved to the bereavement list.

In his second game, Vientos blasted a walk-off, two-run homer to beat the C...