Summary:
- The New York Mets defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 8-4 on Tuesday night.
- The Metropolitans seized Game 1 of the Wild Card Series in front of 40,000 fans.
- The victory that could send them to the National League Division Series followed an 18-inning marathon against the Braves on Monday.
The New York Mets had every reason to be worn down entering Game 1 of the National League Wild Card series.
Their playoff quest took them from Milwaukee to Atlanta and back on a round trip that included a grueling 18-inning marathon against the Atlanta Braves on Monday, capped by a dramatic 8-7 victory.
The doubleheader with the Braves was necessary due to the tie between the Braves, the Mets, and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Yet, with no time to dwell on the emotional rollercoaster, the Mets found themselves back on the field less than 24 hours later, ready for another pivotal game.
Fueled by a feverish five-run, two-out rally, the Mets surged past the Milwaukee Brewers 8-4 on Tuesday night at American Family Field.
This way, they seized Game 1 in front of 40,022 fans. The win puts the Mets in position to advance to the National League Division Series for the first time since 2015, with Sean Manaea taking the mound in Game 2 on Wednesday at 7:38 p.m. ET.
Brewers ace Freddy Peralta seemed to settle in after a rocky start, allowing a two-run triple to Jesse Winker and a sacrifice fly to Starling Marte.
After retiring nine consecutive batters through the fourth inning, Brewers manager Pat Murphy turned to his bullpen, which led the National League in ERA and WHIP during the regular season.
Momentum initially swung in Milwaukee’s favor after Jackson Chourio made a spectacular leaping catch to rob Marte of a home run.
However, the Mets were quick to respond, much like they did in Monday’s game against the Braves, rallying against Brewers reliever Joel Payamps.
Tyrone Taylor’s line-drive double, followed by a Francisco Lindor walk, set the stage for Jose Iglesias.
The second baseman hustled to beat out an infield chopper, allowing Taylor to score from second.
Iglesias’ gritty play sparked the Mets’ two-out rally, which continued with Brandon Nimmo’s infield single.
Then, pinch-hitter J.D. Martinez and Mark Vientos delivered back-to-back two-run singles off reliever Aaron Ashby, pushing the Mets to an 8-4 lead.
Luis Severino’s start was far from ideal. The Mets right-hander surrendered three straight hits to open the game, including an RBI single to William Contreras.
A hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded put New York in an early 2-0 hole, raising concerns about a repeat of Severino’s previous outing against the Braves, where he allowed four earned runs on seven hits.
After giving up two more runs in the fourth inning, which allowed the Brewers to regain the lead, 4-3, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza stuck with Severino.
The decision paid off as Severino dug deep, retiring the final eight batters he faced. He completed six innings on 105 pitches, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three.
Meanwhile, the Brewers’ bullpen was tested, with Payamps, Ashby, and Nick Mears all pitching in the fifth inning. Despite their efforts, the Mets’ offensive explosion proved too much to overcome.
Now, with a chance to close out the series, the Mets turn to Manaea in Game 2 at 7:38 p.m. ET on Wednesday which US bettors can find the latest odds with selected sportsbooks.
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