MILWAUKEE — The Mets‘ comeback magic lasted another 7 1/2 innings before the Milwaukee Brewers got the big hit they needed to stay alive in the NL Wild Card series.
With the Mets holding on to a 3-2 lead, right-hander Phil Maton gave up a game-tying home run to rookie sensation Jackson Chourio in the bottom of the eighth, his second of the game, and a huge, two-run go-ahead shot to Garrett Mitchell. The Mets dropped the second game of the series, 5-3, on Wednesday night at American Family Field.
Neither team gave up much offense. When the Mets had chances, the Brewers mostly made tough pitches, but they also failed to capitalize on the chances they did have, going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and leaving nine on base.
After huge comebacks Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the Mets couldn’t manage another.
Devin Williams, one of the NL’s top closers, retired the side in order to convert the save and force a decisive Game 3 on Thursday.
The winner will move on to face the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.
The Mets scrapped for three runs over the first two innings against right-hander Frankie Montas, and the Brewers got the home run from Chourio in the bottom of the first, and utilized Brice Turang’s legs to get the second run across in the bottom of the fifth.
Turang, who went 9-for-19 against the Mets during the regular season and 4-for-8 with a double and three stolen bases in two games over the weekend, ripped one down the left field line to lead off. Left fielder Brandon Nimmo tried to play the ball off the bounce when it caromed off the wall, but it rolled past him. It was ruled a double, his third of the series. He moved to third on a grounder by Chourio.
That was around the time the Mets got Reed Garrett up in the bullpen. Blake Perkins hit a fly ball to former Milwaukee outfielder Tyrone Taylor in center field to score Turang. Francisco Lindor helped Sean Manaea get out of it by making a tough play on a screaming grounder.
That was it for the pitcher that helped carry the Mets’ pitching staff all summer. Manaea left after two earned runs on six hits over five innings. He struck out four and didn’t allow a walk.
The entire game was too close for comfort. The Mets have been playing this way for weeks, with every pitch and every play carrying weight. And there were times when it was obvious that the Mets weren’t exceptionally comfortable.
With two on and none out in the top of the six and the Mets holding a one-run lead, Taylor and Francisco Alvarez both swung at first-pitch sliders low in the zone from Joel Payamps. Both hit right into outs. After the Brewers intentionally walked Lindor, Jose Iglesias, one of the Mets’ best hitters with runners in scoring position, struck out on four pitches to strand the bases loaded.
Lindor, still playing on an injured back, made some dynamic plays at shortstop, including a spinning throw to get Sal Frelick out in the bottom of the second, and a sliding stop on a 110.1 MPH grounder from William Contreras, the play that ended the fifth. But there were a few other plays where it was evident he was dealing with discomfort: diving stops where he was slow to get up and a groundball that got through the middle after he was only about a half-step away from grabbing.
Still, the Mets held a lead until Chourio’s second homer of the game.
Montas went just 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (one earned), walking one and striking out three.