Ninth Inning Blast Leads Mets to the NLDS
The New York Mets are returning to the NLDS for the first time since 2015. On Thursday, they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers to win the Wild Card Series 2-1. They will head to Philadelphia to take on the Phillies starting on Saturday in the team’s first division series appearance since their last World Series appearance. This will be the first time the division rivals ever meet in the playoffs.
Thursday’s win over the Brewers did not come easy. Jose Quintana got the start for the Mets and looked stellar. He went six innings, allowing only four hits and no runs on his way to the no-decision. Tobias Myers got the start for the Brewers, who also looked excellent. He went five innings, giving up only two hits and no runs while also getting a no-decision. Trevor Megill, Nick Mears, and Freddy Peralta all threw one inning each in relief, not giving up a hit or a walk combined. However, in the seventh inning, Jose Butto came in relief for the Mets and gave up back-to-back home runs on back-to-back pitches to Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick, putting the Brewers up 2-0. Edwin Diaz came in to pitch one and two third innings and kept the deficit to two.
Heading into the ninth inning, the Brewers had everything in their favor. They had a two-run lead, with all-star closer Devin Williams coming out of the pen to shut it down. They had it set up perfectly to become the first team in the new Wild Card Era to win the best of three series after losing the first game. To lead off the top of the ninth, Williams surrendered a walk to Francisco Lindor on eight pitches. He came back strong, striking out Mark Vientos on a 95 mph fastball. On an 0-2 count, Brandon Nimmo fought a changeup to right field to put runners on the corners with one out. Then Pete Alonso came up huge, blasting a three-run home run to right field to give the Mets the lead 3-2. Williams again bounced back, getting Jose Iglesias to strike out, but couldn’t get out of the inning. Jesse Winker was hit by a pitch, stole second, and then driven in by a Starling Marte single to make the score 4-2 Mets. Williams was replaced by Joe Ross, who recorded the final out.
In the bottom of the ninth, David Peterson came in and immediately gave up a hit to Sal Frelick. However, he quickly bounced back, striking out Joey Ortiz and then getting a ground ball double play to end the game and send the Mets to the NLDS. In the new Wild Card Series Era, teams who win the first game continue to be undefeated in moving on. The Mets play versus the Phillies on Saturday at 4:08 P.M. EST. Zack Wheeler will be on the mound for the Phillies, and it is still yet to be determined who will be starting for the Mets.
