Mets 8 Brewers 4 (American Family Field Milwaukee, WI)
WP - Luis Severino (1-0)
LP - Joel Payamps (0-1)
Seat on the Korner: CARLOS MENDOZA
We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.
Today's Seat on the Korner goes to Mets rookie manager Carlos Mendoza, who looked every bit like a seasoned veteran in his first postseason game. His decision to start Jesse Winker at DH over J.D. Martinez paid off immediately, as Winker's second-inning double tied the game at two. Then, in the fifth inning, Mendoza made another sharp move, pinch-hitting J.D. Martinez for Winker. Once again, his instincts proved right as Martinez delivered a clutch two-out single, driving in two more runs to extend the Mets' lead to 8-4.
Even with a four-run cushion, conventional wisdom suggested pulling starter Luis Severino, who had already faced the Brewers' lineup twice and was approaching a high pitch count. However, Mendoza, staying true to his gut, stuck with Severino, who rewarded the decision by retiring the side in order in the fifth. Defying the book once more, Mendoza sent Severino out for the sixth, where he delivered another 1-2-3 inning.
With Edwin Díaz and Phil Maton having pitched multiple innings over the past few days, Mendoza turned to José Butto, who set down the first six batters he faced. To close out the game, Mendoza went with Ryne Stanek, giving Díaz and Maton much-needed rest ahead of what could be a series-clinching game tomorrow. Once again, Mendoza’s call paid off as Stanek sealed the win, showcasing Mendoza's ability to manage with both instinct and strategy.
Need to Know
The Mets are back in the Postseason for the first time since 2022 and for the 11th time in franchise history.This will is the fifth Wild Card berth in team history.Also in 1999, 2000, 2016 and 2022.
The Mets are 52-40 all-time in Postseason play...The club's .565 winning percentage is the third-best in major league history...Only the Marlins (24-16, .600) and the Yankees (244-178, .578) have a better winning percentage.
The Mets are 8-11 in the first game of a Postseason Series.
The Mets added Max Kranick to the post season roster for this series, leaving Tylor McGill off of it.
Luis Severino,30 went 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 31 starts this season. has appeared in 12 career Postseason games, including 11 starts, with the win tonight he Is now 2-4 with a 5.26 ERA (29 ER/49.2 IP) with 24 walks and 47 strikeouts.
Freddy Peralta, 28, went 11-9 with a 3.68 ERA in 32 starts this season. He was pulled after only 68 pitches, did not get a decision in tonight's game. He Is now 0-1 in the post season with a 4.23 ERA in 5 games/3starts (17ip, 9h, 8r, 8er, 7bb, 22k, 2hr).....pitched in the postseason in 2018, 2020-21 and 2023.....started Game 3 of the 2021 NLDS at Atlanta and received no decision in the Brewers’ 3-0 loss (4ip, 3h, 0r, 1bb, 5k).....his other start came in Game 2 of the 2023 NL Wild Card Series vs. Arizona as he took a 5-2 loss (5ip, 3h, 4r, 4er, 2bb, 5k, 1hr).
The Brewers spent the following number of days alone or tied at each position in the NL Central standings this season: FIRST: 173, SECOND: 13, THIRD: 1, FOURTH: 0, FIFTH: 0.....the team finished in first place, ahead of the Cardinals and Cubs by 10.0 games, Reds by 16.0 games and Pirates by 17.0 games.....the team was in first place every day from April 30 through the end of the season and clinched a postseason berth and the NL Central championship on Sept. 18.
Turning Point
While it would be easy to point to José Iglesias' hustle for an infield single driving in the tying run in the fifth, the real turning point of the game, in my view, happened in the top of the second inning with the Mets trailing 2-0. The Mets turned up the pressure on Brewers starter Freddy Peralta, forcing him to throw 32 pitches and eventually driving him from the game by the fifth inning. Here's a recap of that critical three run second inning that set the tone for the Mets' eventual control of the game.
Mark Vientos got things going with a single to center field, giving the Mets their first baserunner of the inning. Pete Alonso followed with a patient at-bat, drawing a walk and putting runners on first and second.
Jesse Winker then delivered the big hit of the inning, lacing a triple down the right-field line past Sal Frelick, taking a moment to jaw with Willy Adames as he rounded second. Both Vientos and Alonso scored, tying the game at 2. With the go-ahead run on third, the Brewers were reeling. Starling Marte added a run with a sacrifice fly, scoring Winker to make it 3-2.
Although the Brewers regained the lead in the fourth inning with two runs of their own, the Mets had already forced Peralta into a high pitch count. By the fifth inning, the Brewers’ bullpen was in play, and the Mets' relentless approach led to a five-run explosion, as the Brewers cycled through three relievers.
OMG Little Things Mean A lot
The pivotal fifth inning turned the tide for the Mets, and José Iglesias' hustle was the spark that kept the momentum alive. After Brewers manager Pat Murphy pulled Freddy Peralta following a solid four innings and just 68 pitches, Joel Payamps took over on the mound. The Brewers were clinging to a 4-3 lead when Starling Marte flied out, and Tyrone Taylor doubled to give the Mets some life. However, after Francisco Alvarez flied out, it seemed like Payamps might escape the inning.
That's when Iglesias stepped up. With two outs, he hit a slow grounder to first baseman Rhys Hoskins and beat Payamps to the bag with a head-first slide, allowing Tyrone Taylor to score and tie the game at 4-4. That hustle not only tied the game but kept the inning alive for Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos, whose consecutive singles gave the Mets a 6-4 lead.
Iglesias' relentless effort set the stage for J.D. Martinez, who came up to pinch-hit for Jesse Winker. Martinez delivered a two-run single to make it 8-4, capping off the Mets' five-run rally. Iglesias' determination to beat out that infield single changed the complexion of the game, fueling a Mets surge that Milwaukee couldn’t recover from.
Pen Locks it Down
On a night when Phil Maton and Edwin Díaz were unavailable due to the number of innings they pitched over the last two days to help the Mets secure a playoff spot, the team turned to José Butto and Ryne Stanek to record the final nine outs. They were flawless, not allowing a baserunner and striking out four of the nine batters they faced. In contrast, the Brewers' bullpen struggled, surrendering five runs over five innings on five hits and four walks.
Leaving a Mark
Mark Vientos got his first taste of postseason action, and it didn’t start as he’d hoped. In the early going, a ball off the bat of a William Contreras bounced off his glove, a clear sign of nerves in the high-pressure moment. However, once he settled down, Vientos turned in a strong performance, going 2-for-4 at the plate. He drove in two key runs and scored two more, helping fuel the Mets' offense in the crucial game one playoff game. His resilience after the early miscue highlighted his ability to adapt and contribute when it mattered most.
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