The long, 162-game season, will likely all come down to a Monday doubleheader in Atlanta. The Mets had a chance to essentially confirm their spot as a NL Wild Card in Milwaukee against the Brewers, but lost two of three to the NL Central champions. However, after losing the first two games of the series, New York came back to shut out the Brew Crew in the series finale, continuing to show the perseverance that has been there all season under manager Carlos Mendoza. At the end of the series, the Mets are tied with both the Braves and Diamondbacks.
Entering Monday’s doubleheader in Atlanta between the Mets and Braves, here are the latest assumptions for the playoffs. The Mets magic number is one, so if they split the doubleheader they are in. If they sweep, they will be the fifth seed. The same goes for the Braves. The Diamondbacks need to hope for a sweep. If either team sweeps on Monday, the D-backs are in. If there is a split, they are out.
Game 1: Brewers 8, Mets 4
Old friend/nemesis Rhys Hoskins put his stamp on the game, and series, early on in game one with a grand slam that represented the final margin in the game. Alvarez’s injury was another worrisome moment coming out of this game.
New York’s middle infielders continued to carry the lineup. Despite not looking as comfortable as pre-injury, Lindor still had two hits. Jose Iglesias had two as well. Mark Vientos had a two-run home run, his 27th of the season. Harrison Bader also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, while the other Mets run was scored on an error.
The most dominant pitcher for the Mets, Sean Manaea, took the mound for the start. He left the first inning down 4-0 after the grand slam. Overall, he threw 91 pitches in 3.2 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks with one strikeout. Jose Butto threw 1.1 scoreless innings, followed by Danny Young (0.2 inning, one run though not earned), Adam Ottavino (1.1 scoreless innings), and Alex Young (one run in one inning).
Hoskins made his presence known early, tying a Brewers record with his third grand slam of the year. It was his 26th home run. Former Met Gary Sanchez hit a solo homer, his 11th home run of the year. Brice Turang had three hits in four at-bats with three runs and an RBI. The other Milwaukee run was driven in by Jackson Chourio, in addition to a run on a wild pitch.
Frankie Montas got the start for the Brewers, going four innings and allowing two runs on two hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Joe Ross gets credit for the win, with three shutout innings. Holby Milner went 0.2 inning, charged with two runs (one earned), before giving way to Trevor Megill for a 1.1 inning save, his 21st of the season.
Game 2: Brewers 6, Mets 0
As the stakes become higher with each passing game, the Mets seem to be pressing, and struggling more at the plate. With their season potentially on the line, New York produced only two hits against a stable of six Brewers pitchers. It was the first time they were shut out since August 23rd.
For the Mets, Starling Marte delivered a ground rule double in the fifth. The other New York hit came courtesy of Iglesias. He extended his hit streak to 19 games, and is providing something else to cheer for as the Mets playoff chances hang in the balance. Vientos, hitting in the third spot in the lineup, struck out three times.
On the mound, veteran Jose Quintana started for the Mets. He threw 92 pitches over 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks, with nine strikeouts. Quintana picked up the loss, evening his record at 10-10 with a 3.75 ERA on the season. Phil Maton pitched the next 1.2 innings, and was not charged with any runs. After a scoreless inning by Ryne Stanek, things got a bit worse in the eighth. Reed Garrett went 0.2 inning, and was charged with four runs, which blew the game open. Danny Young had the last 0.1 inning.
For the Brewers, their bats were very aggressive. Despite 18 strikeouts, they produced six runs. Three of them were driven in by Joey Ortiz. The other runs were RBIs of Andruw Monasterio (two), and Willy Adames. Adames and Churio each had two hits. Each starter in the Brewers struck out twice, except Adames who only struck out once.
Jared Koenig served as the opener for the Brewers, and pitched a scoreless first inning. Tobias Myers pitched the next four innings, allowing only a hit, to pick up the win. This was followed by consecutive hitless innings by Joel Payamps, Aaron Ashby, Nick Mears, and Devin Williams.
Game 3: Mets 5, Brewers 0
New York was able to salvage the last game of the series behind a dominant performance on the mound from David Peterson. MVP candidate Lindor looked more like himself, playing shortstop and delivering a home run.
Lindor had two hits for the game, including his 32nd home run of the season. Iglesias extended his hitting streak to 20 with two hits, while both Vientos and previously slumping J.D. Martinez each had two hits as well. Lindor and Alvarez drove in two runs each, and the other Mets run was driven in by Brandon Nimmo.
Peterson tossed seven innings of one-hit ball, with three walks and eight strikeouts over 95 pitches. Maton pitched a scoreless eighth, giving way to closer Edwin Diaz, who struck out three in the ninth. Though not a close situation, using Diaz in that non-save situation shows the importance that Mendoza placed on winning this last game heading into Monday’s doubleheader in Atlanta.
Milwaukee’s bats were mostly silenced by the Mets pitchers. The three hits were from Turang, Chourio, and Sanchez. The Brewers struck out 12 times, including three from Isaac Collins and two from Eric Haase.
Colin Rea got the start for the Brewers. Over 4.2 innings, he allowed five runs on 10 hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Milner went the next 1.1 innings, and DL Hall the final two innings.
Feature Photo Credit; MLB.com
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