MILWAUKEE (AP) — The New York Mets triumphed over the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on Thursday night, thanks to a pivotal three-run homer hit by Pete Alonso off All-Star closer Devin Williams in the ninth inning. This victory allowed the Mets to secure their spot in the NL Wild Card Series.
This thrilling comeback marked the Mets’ first advancement in the playoffs since their 2015 National League pennant win. They are set to face the Philadelphia Phillies, the NL East champions, in a best-of-five Division Series that begins Saturday. This matchup will be the first postseason meeting between the long-time rivals.
“It’s been an unreal journey; what an experience,” said Alonso. “I’m just thrilled to keep this team alive.” In a remarkable achievement, Alonso became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit a go-ahead homer in a winner-take-all postseason game when his team was trailing in the ninth inning or later, as noted by OptaSTATS.
“This is the kind of moment you dream about as a kid,” Alonso reflected.
The Brewers, who clinched the NL Central title, faced disappointment as they made their sixth playoff appearance in seven years without winning a postseason series since their journey to Game 7 of the 2018 National League Championship Series. Manager Pat Murphy shared his heartbreak, stating, “I love this team deeply, and I’ll never replicate the spirit of 2024. It didn’t conclude as we had hoped; it ended tragically.”
The Brewers seemed poised for victory after pinch-hitters Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick broke a scoreless tie with back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning against Jose Buttó. Rookie right-hander Tobias Myers, along with three relievers, executed a two-hit shutout for the first eight innings, retiring 12 consecutive Mets before they stepped to the plate in the ninth against Williams, who had saved the previous game.
However, Williams admitted he wasn’t at his best: “I’m not making excuses. I didn’t perform as required, and they made good plays.”
In a pivotal moment, Francisco Lindor led off the ninth with a drawn-out eight-pitch walk. Although Mark Vientos struck out, Brandon Nimmo’s sharp single on an 0-2 pitch put runners at the corners, paving the way for Alonso’s appearance.
Having hit 226 career home runs over six seasons without an extra-base hit since September 19, Alonso was ready for the challenge. “Devin has great stuff,” he commented. “I’ve faced him numerous times; he’s tough.” With a 3-1 count, Alonso swung at an 86 mph changeup, driving it over the right-field wall and immediately celebrating with a “chef’s kiss” gesture as he rounded first base.
With the Mets leading, Williams remained on the mound but struggled, allowing Jesse Winker to be hit by a pitch, who then stole second and scored on a single by Starling Marte, providing crucial insurance for New York’s lead. Winker, a former Brewer, expressed his emotions with fervor as he scored, slamming his helmet in response to the boos from the crowd.
This rally encapsulated New York’s incredible season, having dipped to a 22-33 record by late May only to finish as the best team in baseball for the remainder of the regular season. Their playoff berth was solidified during a dramatic 8-7 comeback victory over rivals Atlanta in a makeup game. Remarkably, New York became the first team to secure a postseason spot and a playoff series win after trailing in the ninth inning or later during both games.
“Given the ups and downs this season, it feels entirely fitting,” Nimmo said. “After being written off early in the season, we pushed through incredible challenges and became the top team in baseball for four months. That’s how we approached this game; we were down and out for eight innings but kept striving until the end, seeing what we could achieve.”
As the ninth inning unfolded, Frelick hit a single to start but, following a strikeout of Joey Ortiz and a double play by Brice Turang, Milwaukee’s hopes were dashed.
“It’s hard to accept, plain and simple,” Frelick remarked about the loss, which followed his first home run since mid-May. “This will stick with us as a group as we move into next year.”
Edwin Díaz delivered 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, earning the win, while David Peterson notched his first major league save during his initial relief appearance of the season. The game began as a pitchers’ duel, with Myers shutting down the Mets over five innings and Jose Quintana holding the Brewers scoreless through six.
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New York faced the Phillies with a 6-7 record during the regular season and finished six games behind Philadelphia in the division standings.
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