Mets vs. Brewers score: Pete Alonso's clutch home run sends New York to NLDS, eliminates Milwaukee

The New York Mets are heading to the NLDS. Thursday night, the Mets eliminated the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series (NYM 4, MIL 2) with a stunning ninth-inning comeback that saw Pete Alonso hit a game-winning, three-run home run against All-Star closer Devin Williams. New York will face the NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS. This is the Mets' first postseason series win since the 2015 NLCS.

Here is the final out (the final two outs, really) of the final game of this year's Wild Card Series:

Game 3 was a thrilling pitchers' duel and only the fourth time a winner-take-all postseason game was scoreless through six innings, joining the 2016 NL Wild Card Game, Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, and Game 7 of the 1968 World Series. It become a battle of the bullpens and both bullpen had hiccups, but the Mets prevailed in the end.

Here are four takeaways from New York's win in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series.

Pete Alonso had his moment

As good as he was this season -- 34 homers and a .788 OPS -- Mets slugger Pete Alonso never really had a big moment for a team that seemed to have a new biggest moment every week. His moment finally arrived in Game 3. Alonso slugged a go-ahead three-run homer against Williams in the ninth inning Thursday. Alonso knew it as soon as hit it:

That snapped a 15-inning scoreless streak for the Mets dating back to the third inning of Game 2. It was also only the second home run Williams allowed all season, though he did not make his 2024 debut until July 28 because of a back injury. Still, Williams has never been especially home run prone, then Alonso got him in the ninth inning of a winner-take-all postseason game.

With one swing, Alonso went from taking what might've been his final at-bat as a Met -- he will be a free agent this offseason -- to having his signature moment for the Amazin's. Going into Alonso's at-bat, Milwaukee's win probability sat at a healthy 82.5%. Then just like that, it was 82.2% in favor of the Mets. One of the biggest swings of the season, truly.

New York added an important insurance run later in the winning when Jesse Winker got hit by a pitch, stole second base, then scored on Starling Marte's two-out single. David Peterson, who has been in the rotation all year, came out of the bullpen to get his first career save. In what seemed like an instant, the Mets punched their ticket to the NLDS and the Brewers were sent packing.

Quintana shut the Brewers down again

Brewers rookie Tobias Myers was great and Jose Quintana was every bit as good. The Mets' southpaw struck out five in six scoreless innings. He has been a thorn in the side of the Brewers his entire career. In 23 career games against Milwaukee, he has a 2.98 ERA and held hitters to a .627 OPS. That is in the not small sample of 130 innings, though most came during his time with the NL Central rival Cubs from 2017-20.

History with the Brewers aside, Quintana finished the regular season exceptionally well, pitching to a 0.74 ERA in his final six starts. Four of those six starts were scoreless and he allowed two runs in each of the other two. The Mets may not have a bona fide ace -- Sean Manaea has pitched at an ace level at times this year -- but they have four really good starters. Every night they run a quality arm out there. Quintana more than did his job in Game 3.

Myers was terrific (and on a short leash)

Myers, who is perhaps best known for being the minor-league pitcher the Rays traded for Junior Caminero years ago, drew the Game 3 start for the Brewers and was dynamite. A single, a double, and a hit by pitch was all he allowed in five shutout innings. He struck out five and the Mets missed with 32% of their swings against his fastball, an astronomical rate.

The Brewers kept Myers on a pretty tight leash in the regular season, allowing him to face more than 20 batters only 12 times in his 25 starts, and they stuck to the plan in Game 3. He was pulled after facing 18 batters (exactly two times through the order) despite throwing only 66 pitches. It certainly seemed like Myers had more left in the tank, but five innings was all he got.

For what it's worth, opponents hit Myers awfully hard the third time through the lineup during the regular season. He held hitters to a .225/.279/.364 line the first two times through the lineup, then they tagged him for a .319/.369/.489 line thereafter. Myers pitched like an ace the first two times through, and hitters turn into an All-Star the third time around.

Only a handful of teams allowed their pitchers to face fewer batters the third (and fourth) time through the order during the regular season than the Brewers. This is what they do. They get the most out of their pitches by limited how often opposing hitters see him, and the Brewers certainly got great work out of Myers in Game 3. He was fantastic.

New York's bullpen cracked first

You think the Brewers were happy to see Quintana out of the game? The Mets went to righty José Buttó, who has been really good for them since moving into the bullpen, to begin the seventh inning, and Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick greeted him with back-to-back home runs. Back-to-back pitches too:

The Brewers finished sixth in runs per game during the regular season, though they were only 17th in home runs. They typically generate offense with speed. In fact, Frelick hit only two home runs all year: May 14 and 15. He went deep on back-to-back days and not at all the rest of the season. Frelick picked a pretty good time for his third homer of 2024.

The back-to-back homers gave the Brewers a 2-0 lead, and after Buttó faced the requisite three batters, he was out of the game. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza went to Edwin Díaz, his closer and best reliever, in the seventh inning to keep the game close. That move might get overlooked, but it was imperative. Díaz kept the Brewers off the board in the seventh and eighth innings, and gave the offense a chance to come back in the ninth.

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Mets 4, Brewers 2; Mets advance to NLDS

The never-say-die Mets have pulled off another miracle. This time, their 4-2 victory sends them to Philadelphia for the NLDS while the NL Central champion Brewers head home for the winter.

The game was a scoreless tie through six innings. Mets starter José Quintana was brilliant through six. Brewers rookie starter Tobias Myers went five scoreless innings before Trevor Megill worked the sixth. 

Then the Brewers had an unlikely inning that seemed like it sealed the series. Pinch hitter Jake Bauers hit a leadoff homer in the seventh. Sal Frelick homered on the next pitch to make it 2-0 Brewers. He only hit two homers in the regular season and had zero since May. 

The game proceeded then as expected to the ninth, where All-Star closer Devin Williams took over with a 2-0 lead. Francisco Lindor fouled off two 3-2 pitches before drawing the walk. Mark Vientos struck out and everything still seemed on schedule. Brandon Nimmo then singled to right field and things got dicey. And then, on a 3-1 count, Pete Alonso turned everything on its head. 

Ridiculous. What a moment. What a game. 

The Mets tacked on another run to give a little cushion with a 4-2 lead. 

The game was far from over, though. We know how much both of these teams battle. They'd both shown it throughout this three-game series. And Mets closer Edwin Díaz was already burned. 

Starting pitcher David Peterson took over in a save situation, because why not? It's the playoffs, baby. He allowed a leadoff single but worked around it to close things down.

The Brewers are eliminated. The Mets get to face the Phillies now in what should prove to be a very fun NLDS. 

October 4, 2024, 2:00 AM
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Ortiz strikes out

The Mets are two outs away. It's Turang (who is really fast) and then Chourio. Still a tall order.

October 4, 2024, 2:00 AM
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Frelick leads off with a single

Sure, why not?

October 4, 2024, 1:57 AM
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Onto the ninth we go ...

It'll be 7-8-9 in the Brewers order (Frelick, Ortiz, Turang). If anyone gets on it's stellar rookie Jackson Chourio. David Peterson is in for the close. Hold onto your butts.

October 4, 2024, 1:55 AM
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Mets extend lead

After Winker was hit by a pitch, he stole second and then Starling Marte singled him home. It's 4-2 Mets.

October 4, 2024, 1:52 AM
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Jesse Winker hit by pitch again. LOL

October 4, 2024, 1:49 AM
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The Mets take the lead

Holy smokes! Pete Alonso hits a three-run bomb to right-center and the Mets take a 3-2 lead. 

This is unbelievable. Devin Williams is one of the best closers in baseball. He gave up a leadoff walk to Francisco Lindor -- it should be noted Lindor fought hard in fouling several two-strike pitches off -- before a one-out Brandon Nimmo single and then Alonso went deep on a 3-1 count. 

October 4, 2024, 1:44 AM
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We've just had so much late-inning drama this week. Especially for someone with no rooting interest, it's been a pleasure.

October 4, 2024, 1:42 AM
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Nimmo singles!

Lindor gets to third and the Mets are in business with only one out.

October 4, 2024, 1:41 AM
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1 out

Vientos strikes out.

October 4, 2024, 1:40 AM
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Williams very rarely allows home runs.

October 4, 2024, 1:39 AM
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Leadoff walk to Lindor

And here comes the drama. The tying run is now at the plate and it's a power hitter in Vientos.

October 4, 2024, 1:38 AM
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Here we go, the Mets' ninth

It'll be Devin Williams against the top of the Mets' order: Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo.

October 4, 2024, 1:33 AM
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Down to three outs

Peralta with a clean eighth on 13 pitches. It'll be Devin Williams in the ninth after the Brewers get a chance to add insurance in the bottom half of the eighth.

October 4, 2024, 1:24 AM
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For those curious on Peralta

A short outing here shouldn't impact his availability in the NLDS. Generally, starters throw bullpen sessions in between starts and this could serve as his. 

October 4, 2024, 1:22 AM
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It is Freddy Peralta in the eighth

He's already gotten two outs, too. He's fired up.

October 4, 2024, 1:21 AM
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The Brewers are six outs away

They've got Devin Williams, apparently, for one inning, so they just want to figure out the eighth. Freddy Peralta was up in the bullpen, but maybe only in the case of a tie? They could always send Mears back out. Joel Payamps should be available, but he got knocked around in Game 1. Ditto Aaron Ashby.

I think there's merit to sending Williams out for the eighth inning and seeing how quickly he gets through it. If he has a five-pitch inning or something, easy to send him out for the ninth. If he has to work hard and throw 25 pitches, then pivot for the ninth.

October 4, 2024, 1:08 AM
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Brewers take lead on back-to-back homers

Last night it was a Garrett Mitchell pinch-hit two-run homer that put the Brewers on top for good in the eighth inning. This time it was Jake Bauers in the seventh with a pinch-hit homer to break a scoreless tie.

Sal Frelick followed with a first-pitch swing that gave the Brewers a little breathing room. 

Frelick only had two regular-season home runs in 524 at-bats. 

These last two nights are the types of nights that make people start talking about "team of destiny" type stuff. 

October 4, 2024, 1:06 AM
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Scoreless in the seventh

Only the fourth winner-take-all game with no runs through six:

October 4, 2024, 1:03 AM
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For what it's worth, it was reported Luis Severino walked out to the bullpen earlier in the game. He threw over 100 pitches in Game 1 two days ago. I assume he's the last resort guy, but it is all hands on deck for both teams.

October 4, 2024, 12:57 AM
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Whoa! Freddy Peralta up in the bullpen for the Brewers. He was the Game 1 starter and threw 68 pitches.

October 4, 2024, 12:55 AM
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Nick Mears -- not to be confused with four-time Indy 500 winner Rick Mears -- on for the Brewers.

October 4, 2024, 12:53 AM
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It might only take one run at this point. Then again, there has been a lot of late-game scoring all week.

October 4, 2024, 12:51 AM
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I feel it. This is the inning. (If it is not, I will delete this.)

October 4, 2024, 12:43 AM
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That was efficient

Megill only needed seven pitches to go 1-2-3 in the sixth.

October 4, 2024, 12:40 AM
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Trevor Megill in for the Brewers, facing his brother's team.

October 4, 2024, 12:37 AM
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Through five innings

It is 0-0. The left on base count is Brewers 5, Mets 3. 

October 4, 2024, 12:36 AM
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I love when fans boo a pitcher stepping off. It makes no sense other than that it was fun cheering and this breaks up the cheering. Hard to blame them. 

October 4, 2024, 12:33 AM
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Brewers bullpen

Devin Williams hasn't thrown more than one inning all season, but he only threw 10 pitches last night and didn't pitch in Game 1. I wonder if manager Pat Murphy would ask Williams to go more than one inning in this elimination game?

October 4, 2024, 12:29 AM
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I doubt anything comes of it, but Myers hit Jesse Winker last inning. Of note here is Winker had beef with Willy Adames in Game 1 (and Adames said he waited for Winker in the parking lot after the game). There's a 0% chance it was intentional, but it's worth a look from the spectators out there.

October 4, 2024, 12:28 AM
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