MILWAUKEE – You may not believe in magic, but maybe it’s time to start believing in the Mets. Over the past three months, it seems like every bounce, call and moment has gone in New York’s favor.
A little over 30 hours ago, the Mets had no idea if they would make the postseason. But after three crazy months, New York went to Atlanta and won a back-and-forth game against the rival Braves to clinch their berth in the playoffs.
And with very little sleep and a lot of adrenaline heading into Game 1 of the NL wild card round, the Mets again found a way to rise to the occasion when the lights shined brightest in their 8-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
It was just a few days ago at American Family Field that the Mets lost two of their last three games to the Brewers, forcing them to play the make-up doubleheader against the Braves on Monday. On Tuesday, the Mets didn’t look like the same team.
“I’m going to be honest with you: It’s hard to be tired when you’re playing postseason baseball,” third baseman Mark Vientos said afterward. “He had a lot of energy. “I know we all did.”
After Milwaukee struck first, scoring two runs off starter Luis Severino in the first inning, the Mets responded by scoring three in the second. And after the Brewers scored two more runs to take a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth, New York chose the fifth inning to take over the game.
The Mets’ half of the frame was started by Tyrone Taylor’s one-out double, in which Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio took a bad route and let the ball go over his head. Then, after Francisco Álvarez flied out and Francisco Lindor walked, the Mets offense sprang into action.
Second baseman José Iglesias hit a hard liner to first base and, on a footrace to the bag, dove headlong toward the base to beat reliever Joel Payamps. And with all the attention on first base, Taylor scored while Payamps’ back was turned.
Did someone say something about baserunning? How about this hustle, both from José Iglesias breaking the line and Tyrone Taylor scoring from second on an infield hit? Goodness.
Mets 4, Brewers 4, top five. pic.twitter.com/eNCODDd6if
—Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) October 1, 2024
That sequence of events not only generated the game’s tying streak, making it 4-4, but also sent the Mets dugout into a frenzy, as a team that has thrived on big moments all year created another when most they needed it.
“I think that was probably the biggest (turning) point of the game,” JD Martinez said after the win. “You could see the momentum change right after that. … I take my hat off to Iggy because he runs hard after every ball he hits and is always there. At first it’s always a bang-bang move. And so, I think that’s what guided us today.”
After Iglesias’ RBI single, the Mets proceeded to score four more times in the fifth, all with two outs. Brandon Nimmo’s infield single loaded the bases, and then Vientos and Martínez followed with RBI singles to open the game, giving New York a four-run lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
One of the Mets’ best features all season has been their ability to hit with two outs. This year, their offense was in the top 10 in the MLB in hits and average and in the bottom 10 in strikeouts in two-out situations. Being able to keep the line moving on Tuesday wasn’t just a lucky occurrence; That’s what these Mets are like.
“We have a deep lineup,” coach Carlos Mendoza said after the game. “When we have guys rolling, not only do we control the strikeout – we have guys that can get on base, we have guys that can hit the ball out of the park – but we also have guys that can put the ball in play when we need to. Use the entire field when necessary. “That’s what happened today.”
What has made the Mets so dangerous lately is that they have a unique ability to ride the wave of emotions that occur throughout games. When they trail, they remain level-headed and focus on counterattacking. When they take a big hit, they allow themselves to explode and let their emotions out. It is their identity and it is the reason they are now on the precipice of moving to the NLDS.
“I think before the game we were talking about emotions and trying to keep balance,” Vientos said after the game. “JD said, ‘The guys who keep their emotions the most balanced are the ones who will come out on top.'”
After winning Game 1 with their ace on the mound, the Mets enter Game 2 with Sean Manaea, who has been a revelation behind Severino in the rotation. And with the wind at their back and all the momentum in their favor, taking it one day at a time isn’t just a cliché for the Mets, it’s all they know right now.
“We are not satisfied,” Severino said. “We know the potential we have in that clubhouse, we want to go out and we are going to fight.”
