(Milwaukee) Pete Alonso hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning off late-game specialist Devin Williams and the New York Mets defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on Thursday to win this first-round series .
With another spectacular comeback in this decisive third game, the Mets won their first series since the National League championship in 2015. They will now face the Philadelphia Phillies in the section series, starting on Saturday.
This will be a first playoff series between the long-time rivals. The Mets were 6-7 against the Phillies this season and finished six games behind their rivals from Pennsylvania in the AFC East.
“It’s been unreal. What an adventure! Alonso said. I’m just excited to help keep this team alive. »
The Brewers, section champions at the end of the campaign, participated in the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years. They haven’t won a series since reaching the championship series in 2018, and this latest loss will be particularly painful.
The Brewers appeared to have victory within reach after Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick broke a 0-0 tie in the top of the seventh inning with back-to-back long balls against Jose Butto. Tobias Myers and three relievers combined their efforts to keep the hopes of a shutout alive during the first eight innings.
Twelve straight Mets players had been removed when Williams started the ninth inning on the mound. Twice named reliever of the year in the National, Williams signed the save in the second game of this series.
But he was not in his normal state on Thursday.
Francisco Lindor led off the ninth with a walk. After Mark Vientos was struck out, Brandon Nimmo hit a base hit. Then, Alonso came to the plate.
The veteran hit 226 home runs in six seasons, but hadn’t hit the ball in the stands since September 19. Still, he stretched his arms, sending the ball over the right-field fence.
“It’s something you do in the backyard as a kid,” Alonso said.
Jesse Winker added the insurance run by scoring on a single by Sterling Marte.
This ninth-inning comeback is just the latest chapter in the Mets’ story this season. They were 22-33 at the end of May, and secured their playoff presence by scoring eight runs in the final two innings in an 8-7 win over the Atlanta Braves on the final day. of the season.
“It’s the nature of this team to never give up, to never listen to the echoes from the outside that say you should give up, that you shouldn’t even try. It’s over, Nimmo said. We continue, we continue. And these guys embody that. »
Edwin Diaz pitched for one and two-thirds innings to earn the win. David Peterson, who made his first relief appearance this season, signed his first career save.