The Mets pulled off yet another remarkable late-game rally, as Pete Alonso’s three-run home run in the ninth inning overcame a 2-0 deficit and defeated the Brewers 4-2 in Game 3 of the Wild Card series in Milwaukee on Thursday.
With one out and runners at first and third in the ninth, Alonso hit a 3-1 changeup off Brewers closer Devin Williams over the right field wall for the home run.
The Mets won the series 2-1 to advance to play the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.
Here are the takeaways...
-Alonso was having a forgettable night in what was looming as potentially his final game as a Met.
He was 0-for-3, as he continued to chase pitches, and had also dropped a foul pop-up in the eighth inning.
But then he got his redemption against one of the top closers in the majors.
After Francisco Lindor, who had the Mets’ only two hits through eight innings, led off the ninth with a walk, Brandon Nimmo drove him to third with a single to right-center.
Then Alonso had one of his best at-bats in days, refusing to chase Williams’ signature changeup as he worked the count to 3-1. Then Williams threw him another changeup, and it looked as if Alonso was anticipating it, as he stayed back and drove the pitch to right for a home run.
It was his first home run since Sept. 19.
The Mets added an insurance run when Jesse Winker was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on Starling Marte’s line single to right.
David Peterson, making his first relief appearance of the season, closed the game out in the bottom of the ninth, after Edwin Diaz had been used in relief of Jose Butto to get five outs in the seventh and eighth.
Peterson allowed a leadoff single but after a strikeout got Brice Turang to ground into a double play on a ball to Lindor.
Butto gave up home runs to the first two hitters he faced, both lefties. He hung a 3-2 changeup that Jake Bauers, pinch-hitting for Rhys Hoskins, crushed over the wall in right, and then got too much plate on a first-pitch, down-and-in fastball to Sal Frelick.
Butto had been a savior for the bullpen in the second half of the season, after being converted from starting. He had a 2.00 ERA as a reliever in 23 games in the regular season.
Diaz relieved Butto and got the final five outs for the Mets, allowing two walks while striking out three.
-Jose Quintana gave the Mets an outstanding start, throwing six shutout innings, while allowing four hits and one walk, and getting five strikeouts.
Quintana was nearly flawless with his command and change of speeds, finishing in style by getting Gary Sanchez to chase a changeup for a strikeout to end the sixth. Sanchez had hit a couple of balls hard in previous at-bats, but Quintana pitched him carefully, dotting the outside corner with curveballs and then getting the chase.
The start continued Quintana’s run of late-season dominance. In his previous six starts Quintana had allowed a total of three earned runs, and he was sharp on Thursday night.
The Brewers went to the bullpen early again, Pat Murphy pulling Tobias Myers after five innings even though the right-hander was in total command, allowing two hits, with no walks and five strikeouts.
The Mets repeatedly failed to catch up with his fastball, which was in the 95-96 mph range but playing faster because of a high spin rate. As a result, Myers got 11 swings-and-misses during his five innings.
Myers threw only 66 pitches but the Brewers try to avoid having their starters face a lineup a third time around.
This time Murphy got what he wanted, getting the game to his closer but then Williams gave it up. Williams had only given up one home run during the regular season.
Game MVP: Pete Alonso
It was looking like Alonso was never going to have a big moment as he headed for free agency on a sub-par season. But his home run changes everything.