Milwaukee drops jaw-dropping heartbreaker to Mets in ninth-inning collapse, 4-2

The Milwaukee Brewers endured a heart-breaking loss that will be remembered for years, with Pete Alonso's ninth-inning homer against closer Devin Williams turning Milwaukee's 2-0 lead into a 3-2 deficit. The Brewers ultimately lost, 4-2, and lost the National League wild-card series, 2-1.

The Mets advanced to the National League division series against Philadelphia and Milwaukee's season came to an end.

Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick hit thrilling back-to-back homers in the seventh to break a scoreless tie, and the Mets had just three baserunners entering the ninth inning, when the rock-solid Williams allowed a walk and one-out single, then Alonso's opposite-field shot.

Take a look back at updates from the fateful night:

The Brewers lose in an all-time heartbreaker, 4-2

Brice Turang hits a looping liner on the infield that turns into a double play, and a leadoff single from Sal Frelick goes for naught. Jackson Chourio is left on deck and the Brewers lose, 4-2.

They were two outs from their first series win in the postseason since 2018. They did not get it.

Since 2022, the team that wins Game 1 of the best-of-three wild-card series has gone 12-0. Milwaukee faces a fifth consecutive bad postseason.

FINAL: Mets 4, Brewers 2

Mets add another run, and Devin Williams departs after disaster

Jesse Winker managed to work his way into a hit-by-pitch yet again, stole second and scored on a Starling Marte single. Williams had his worst game of the year at the worst time, and he's heading to the dugout with the Brewers trailing, 4-2. Joe Ross will try to get the last out.

Nightmare for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Joe Ross gets a fly ball to end the inning, but the Brewers are now down 4-2 heading into the ninth. Frelick, Ortiz and Turang due up.

DISASTER. Mets take a 3-2 lead on Pete Alonso's home run

Oh my God, the Brewers are losing.

Francisco Lindor won a leadoff battle and drew a walk on a full-count pitch, and after Vientos struck out against Devin Williams, Brandon Nimmo singled to put runners at the corners with one out. After getting just three baserunners all game, the Mets suddenly had two in the ninth against the Brewers' closer.

And then a very due Pete Alonso drove an opposite-filed fly ball just over the wall in right. The Mets have a 3-2 lead in the ninth inning. The Brewers are suddenly facing elimination after they had this game won.

The Brewers were two outs from the NLDS. They have Frelick, Ortiz and Turang due up in the bottom of the ninth.

Edwin Díaz handles the Brewers in the eighth, and here comes Devin

Willy Adames put up a fight but ultimately struck out, and Mets closer Edwin Díaz, who has done a ton of work lately, retired the next two to finish the eighth with Milwaukee's lead still a tenuous 2-0.

It's up to the Mets' bats now, who haven't homered all series and are three outs away from seeing their 2024 season end. Devin Williams, who didn't have a playoff save opportunity until last night, will now try to make it two in a row and send the Brewers to Philadelphia.

Top of the order though: Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos, and Brandon Nimmo. Won't be easy.

END EIGHTH: Brewers 2, Mets 0.

Freddy Peralta with a scoreless eighth inning

Peralta works a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and the Brewers are three outs away from their first postseason series win since 2018. Devin Williams would have the top of the order in the ninth, starting with Francisco Lindor.

Peralta has now allowed one earned run in five postseason innings of relief.

Buckle in for an incredible finish.

Brewers can't add on, but they have the lead, and it's a surprise coming out of the bullpen

Milwaukee stranded runners at second and third when William Contreras struck out, but the Brewers now have a two-run lead and six outs to get before earning a ticket to the National League Division Series.

The place has been electric, but there is still some work to do. The Brewers really could have used those other two runs. The Mets went to closer Edwin Díaz in the seventh and he walked two of his first three batters, but he works out of it.

And who's checking in for the eighth? This is interesting; it's Freddy Peralta. The Game 1 starter went four innings in that start and wasn't thrilled he got pulled before he could work the fifth, which ended in a five-run disaster. Perhaps it leaves him with a little more in the tank for this?

Surprised Milwaukee doesn't go back to Joe Ross here, but Pat Murphy wants his best guys on the mound for the big spots. Megill has already worked in this game, and so has Mears. Devin Williams will presumably get the ninth.

It's the bottom of the order due up for Freddy. This isn't an altogether unusual spot for him; Peralta worked in relief in 2018 and 2020 during the postseason.

END SEVENTH: Brewers 2, Mets 0

SAL FRELICK (??) HOMERS TOO

Sal Frelick hit two home runs in the regular season. They were in back-to-back games in May.

He just hit one in the playoffs.

The Brewers, who went back-to-back in the regular season seven times, just went back-to-back in the most fascinating way. Frelick followed up Bauers with a blast and that gives the Brewers a 2-0 lead. Frelick sent another no-doubter into the bleachers right after Bauers.

Guys, I've been (ironically?) predicting a Frelick homer this entire postseason, and guess what?

According to Statcast, it's the hardest hit ball of Frelick's career. This is a man who wasn't obviously going to make the roster after destroying his hip last Friday leaping into the outfield wall.

It's 2-0 Brewers.

JAKE BAUERS HOMERS

Wow, Pat Murphy looks like a genius.

He pulls Rhys Hoskins for Jake Bauers, and Bauers sends an absolute no-doubter into the bleachers in right field. Milwaukee has its big hit and a 1-0 lead. WOW.

Wow, Rhys Hoskins getting pulled for Jake Bauers

It'll be Jake Bauers leading off the seventh for Milwaukee instead of Rhys Hoskins.

Hoskins, the team's free-agent splash this offseason, has gone 0 for 9 in this series, and Bauers gives the team better defense and a lefty-righty advantage with a Mets bullpen that lacks many left-handed options.

If this is indeed Hoskins' last game of the year, it was certainly a disappointing year overall, though his 26 homers often came in opportune moments.

Nick Mears is nails in the seventh inning for Milwaukee

Nick Mears, whose penchant for the home-run ball makes him a dicey addition to a scoreless game, was outstanding in a 1-2-3 seventh. He struck out Pete Alonso and Jesse Winker on both sides of a Jose Iglesias groundout, and now the Brewers go to the bottom half of the seventh desperately seeking offense.

Milwaukee has retired nine straight Mets and has still allowed only three baserunners in this game.

The starters are now both out of the game. José Butto is in to pitch for Quintana.

Veterans continue to struggle for Brewers, and we're scoreless into the seventh

The Brewers veteran bats are not getting it done.

Willy Adames has two singles in the series but just struck out on a pitch that bounced to the plate, and William Contreras (though perhaps injured) hasn't had much oomph in this series, either. Throw in Rhys Hoskins, who's 0 for 9, and the Brewers are simply not getting enough from the veterans in this lineup.

Contreras flew out gently and Adames and Gary Sánchez both struck out against Quintana in the sixth.

END SIXTH: Brewers 0, Mets 0

Brewers have their first sellout of the series

Announced attendance is 41,594, the only sellout among the three games in the series.

Seven pitches later, Trevor Megill has a scoreless inning

Trevor Megill, whose brother Tylor is on the Mets (though not on the postseason roster for this series), just breezed through the Mets' top of the order, needing seven pitches to retire Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo.

The Mets hit a couple relatively well-struck fly balls, and Lindor's reached the warning track, but New York still does not have a home run in this series.

The Brewers have some good hitters up and desperately need to break through before this game gets won on something weird.

Brewers turning to the bullpen after another scoreless inning

It's a move we saw coming, but the rest of the country is going to freak out a little about it. Pat Murphy is pulling Tobias Myers after five shutout innings, instead rolling with Trevor Megill.

Myers would have faced the Mets' lineup a third time to kick off the sixth, so it makes statistical and maybe even logical sense. But in a scoreless game, it's going to be under a magnifying glass.

Jackson Chourio worked a two-out walk and stole second, but the Mets retired Blake Perkins to end the inning. Perkins just missed a home run on a long foul earlier in the at-bat.

END FIFTH: Brewers 0, Mets 0

Tobias Myers with the start of his life, five shutout innings

I presume this will be it for Tobias Myers, who delivered a high-octane five innings of work in an elimination game during the National League playoffs.

He worked ahead of Jesse Winker in the fifth but then hit him with a pitch (Winker wasn't exactly in a hurry to get his arm out of the way), then punched out Starling Marte and Tyrone Taylor to re-electrify the crowd. Francisco Alvarez popped out to first base, and the Brewers get another shot to try and score the first run of this game.

What an outing for Tobias Myers. Up to the bullpen and the bats now.

Brewers get another leadoff man aboard, but it doesn't turn into a run

Willy Adames legged out an infield single, but the Brewers couldn't get him around. Gary Sánchez lined out sharply to left, Rhys Hoskins fell to 0 for 9 in the series with a weak grounder to shortstop, and Sal Frelick grounded out to the pitcher.

The Brewers are getting some traffic but haven't gotten the big hit yet.

END FOURTH: Brewers 0, Mets 0

Tobias Myers has retired 12 of 13 as Brewers come to bat in the fourth

It's another 1-2-3 inning for Myers, who has retired 12 of 13 batters since Francisco Lindor doubled leading off the game. In fact, Lindor is the only guy to reach against him, with a single in the third, as well. He just chewed up Nimmo, Alonso and Iglesias on eight pitches.

Now the question becomes: Do you send him back out for the fifth? The Brewers haven't wanted starters to work very deep in the game and turn it over to the bullpen, but Myers has only thrown 52 pitches. He's generated seven swings and misses and seems to be in command. Freddy Peralta was in good shape, too, and Milwaukee famously pulled him in Game 1.

Let's see if the Brewers can cook up some runs first.

Brewers can't score in the third and it's still 0-0

Brice Turang got a dose of his own medicine when second baseman Jose Iglesias made a great play on an infield liner. Turang came into this game with five hits already in the series and very nearly got a sixth there. Jackson Chourio's bloop fly ball to center was caught by Tyrone Taylor, and though Blake Perkins reached on an infield single, William Contreras grounded out weakly to third base.

The quality of contact has been below average against Quintana thus far.

END THIRD: Brewers 0, Mets 0

Some tense moments on a long fly ball, but it's three scoreless for Tobias Myers

Francisco Lindor picked up his second hit of the game, a two-out single, and Mark Vientos sent one to the warning track, but Sal Frelick settled under it to end the inning. That's three scoreless from Tobias Myers, and the Brewers come to the plate in the third looking for the first run of the game.

Gary Sánchez leadoff double goes for naught

Both teams have now wasted a leadoff double in this game.

After Gary Sánchez dumped a ball into the corner, his teammates couldn't get him off second base, with Rhys Hoskins striking out, Sal Frelick punching out looking and Joey Ortiz whiffling a ball to second base for an easy out.

Hoskins is now 0 for 8 in this series with three strikeouts.

END SECOND: Brewers 0, Mets 0

That's a 1-2-3 second for Tobias Myers

Myers needs only 10 pitches to work through the second, getting a couple flyouts and a grounder for the 1-2-3 frame. Blake Perkins got a late break on Starling Marte's low liner with two outs but made a nifty sliding grab, and we're off to the bottom of the second.

Jackson Chourio with another hit, but Brewers don't score in the first

Jackson Chourio rifled a single back up the middle for his fifth hit in nine at-bats during this series thus far (!!) but the Brewers stalled thereafter.

• Blake Perkins nearly had a double down the line that went foul, then struck out.
• William Contreras would have grounded into a double play, but Chourio was running on the pitch and made it to second base before the feed (the return throw to first still got Contreras).
• Willy Adames popped out.

Contreras by the way seems pretty slowed by the knee issue that caused him to get switched from catcher to DH for this game. He's wearing a brace.

END FIRST: Brewers 0, Mets 0

Crowd is IN to it as Tobias Myers strikes out the next two batters and escapes the inning.

After the Lindor play, Myers struck out Mark Vientos on a called third strike that Vientos didn't like from home-plate umpire Vic Carapazza. Brandon Nimmo got ahead in the count, 3-0, and Myers came back to strike him out swinging. Then, Pete Alonso sent a deep fly to center that was caught easily by Perkins.

Myers looked great after the rocky start. The crowd is WAY more alive than it was the first two games, and I think this is going to be the first sellout of the series.

No score to the bottom of the first.

Brewers commit a first-inning miscue already

The Mets are already in business after another hiccup from the Brewers defense on the first batter of the game.

Francisco Lindor smacked a solid liner into the gap, but Blake Perkins cut it off and threw to second, where Lindor was trying to stretch and looked like he was going to be out by a mile. But Brice Turang dropped the ball trying to apply the tag, allowing Lindor to stand at second with a double.

Runner in scoring position with nobody out. Turang is as sure-handed as they come, but he's got to make that play.

Bob Uecker is back in the radio booth for tonight's game

You may have noticed there was no Bob Uecker in the booth for the first two games of this playoff series, but he's back tonight. The 90-year-old has been taking it day-by-day throughout the season.

Robin Yount throws out ceremonial first pitch

The Kid indeed threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Brewers. Hall of Famer Robin Yount often can be found around American Family Field during playoff runs, and here he is again, with a standing ovation from the crowd.

Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who I thought might throw a first pitch himself, just appeared on the video board hyping the crowd up, and they obliged by getting to their feet. It's far from a full house just yet, but there's still time.

Thanasis should be the hype man for all Milwaukee events. Every one of them.

Will we see more Jesse Winker-related drama tonight?

Willy Adames said (joked? maybe?) to Jon Heyman of the New York Post that he waited in the parking lot for Jesse Winker after Game 1 following an on-field suggestion to settle their differences there, but Winker didn't show. This was after Winker had some choice words for seemingly any Brewers player in particular, but especially a nearby Adames, while rounding the bases for a two-run triple in the first game.

If you want of accounting of what was said between Winker and Adames, there's this Jomboy breakdow n, but fair warning, the language is pretty bad.

Winker and the Brewers seem to be embroiled in a bit of a feud, and now Winker is back in the lineup for Game 3, batting sixth and serving as designated hitter. Winker was hit with a pitch by Frankie Montas during last weekend's season-closing series, and something sure seemed fishy about it.

Perhaps it relates to the first series of the year, when Rhys Hoskins and the Mets got into a bit of a spat over a Hoskins slide. Perhaps it relates to a little extra show-boating from Winker when he homered against the Brewers as a member of the Washington Nationals earlier this year?

Most importantly, will there be another chapter?

More: 'I didn't do what I was supposed to do': Jesse Winker reflects on his time with the Brewers

Tobias Myers about to become the second Brewers rookie to start a postseason game

What a spot for Tobias Myers , whose crazy rookie year now plays into an opportunity in a playoff elimination game.

Myers will become the second rookie pitcher in franchise history to start a postseason game, joining Brandon Woodruff, who recorded a no-decision in Game 1 of the 2018 NLDS against Colorado. Milwaukee went on to win that game in 10 innings, 3-2.

Woodruff worked in early relief in the game you remember from that postseason, Game 1 of the NLCS, when Woodruff got an at-bat and homered against Clayton Kershaw in an unforgettable playoff moment.

A national audience will watch this one, including a few thousand at Citi Field

For the first time, Citi Field — home to the New York Mets — is hosting a watch party for this game. With the other three series finishing in 2-0 sweeps, all eyes are on Milwaukee, the one remaining wild-card series to reach the third and final game.

The Mets-Brewers game is the only game in town for one night.

Thanasis Antetokounmpo is bringing some good vibes ... and maybe a ceremonial first pitch?

Truly, Thanasis Antetokounmpo is a vibe.

He was roaming around the ballpark last night, sporting a signed jersey by Mike Moustakas, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2. Probably a Greek thing!

The Bucks player and brother to Giannis is out for the basketball season with an Achilles injury, so apparently he's giving baseball a shot. He's on the field tonight, and he looks like he'll be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, though Brewers legend Robin Yount was bestowed the duty according to the pregame news release. Yount had shoulder issues recently and I don't think can throw at the moment, so perhaps Thanasis is the surrogate?

Brewers lineup change moves Contreras to designated hitter

The Brewers have posted a few different versions of the lineup tonight, and the one we have now features Gary Sánchez catching and William Contreras at designated hitter, a switch of positions. Not sure if that means anything health-wise with Contreras, but he's been battling nagging finger and hip issues over the latter part of the season.

Brice Turang was briefly in the No. 2 spot but he's back to No. 9, with Perkins in the No. 2 slot. That means the lineup has the same players as yesterday in the same order, just with the catchers switching spots.

UPDATE: Sounds like Contreras has a little bit of a knee issue, hence the change.

Brewers make some tweaks in lineup positioning, but same players as Game 2 (which means no Garrett Mitchell)

Facing a lefty for the second straight night, the Brewers will use the same nine position players they used Wednesday, but there's some tweaks. Brice Turang, who batted ninth in Game 2, is up to the No. 2 spot this time around, while Blake Perkins bumps from No. 2 down to No. 7. That pushes Sal Frelick and Joey Ortiz to the bottom two spots of the order.

That means one of the big heroes of Wednesday night, Garrett Mitchell, isn't in the lineup. That's not unusual against a lefty; he checked in as a pinch runner last night and then batted for the first time in the eighth, belting a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth against Phil Maton to give Milwaukee the lead.

Brewers trying to do something that's never been done, strangely

The best-of-three wild card round was adopted in 2022, and so far, no team that has lost the first game has come back to win the series. First-game winners are 11-0 including the three series that wrapped yesterday, and only one of those 11 series have even gone to three games — with the Brewers/Mets series being the second.

Can the Brewers make a bit of history?

It bears mentioning the 2020 season, with a modified playoff format because of the COVID-19 shortened season, featured eight best-of-three series in a slightly different format, and while six of those series ended with 2-0 finishes, the other two included teams rallying from a 1-0 deficit to prevail.

Brewers starting lineup

• Jackson Chourio, left field
• Blake Perkins, center field
• William Contreras, designated hitter
• Willy Adames, shortstop
• Gary Sánchez, catcher
• Rhys Hoskins, first base
• Sal Frelick, right field
• Joey Ortiz, third base
• Brice Turang, second base
• Tobias Myers, right-handed pitcher

Mets starting lineup

• Francisco Lindor, shortstop
• Mark Vientos, third base
• Brandon Nimmo, left field
• Pete Alonso, first base
• José Iglesias, second base
• Jesse Winker, designated hitter
• Starling Marte, right field
• Tyrone Taylor, center field
• Francisco Alvarez, catcher
• Jose Quintana, left-handed pitcher

Is the roof open or closed at American Family Field?

It's closed for Game 3, but the panels are open.

What time is the Brewers game on today?

Time: 6:08 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Oct. 3.

TV: ESPN

Announcers: Jon Sciambi (play-by-play), Doug Glanville (analyst) and Jesse Rogers (field reporter).

Brewers postseason wild-card roster

• PITCHERS: Aaron Ashby, Aaron Civale, DL Hall, Jared Koenig, Nick Mears, Trevor Megill, Frankie Montas, Tobias Myers, Joel Payamps, Freddy Peralta, Joe Ross, Devin Williams
• CATCHERS: William Contreras, Eric Haase, Gary Sánchez
• INFIELDERS: Willy Adames, Jake Bauers, Rhys Hoskins, Andruw Monsaterio, Joey Ortiz, Brice Turang
• OUTFIELDERS: Jackson Chourio, Isaac Collins, Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Blake Perkins

RANKING BREWERS ROSTER: From 1 to 26, who is most crucial to October success

Undaunted Brewers in the playoffs

Brewers in 2024 playoffs

The Brewers cruised to the NL Central championship for a second straight season with a 93-69 record. They're the third seed in the NL bracket.

It's the team's 10th playoff appearance.

Brewers vs Mets playoff schedule

Game 1: Mets 8, Brewers 4

Game 2: Brewers 5, Mets 3

Game 3: Mets vs Brewers — 6:08 p.m. Thursday at American Family Field

MLB playoff picture, schedule

The other three playoff series ended in 2-0 sweeps, including two road-team victories. Here's the schedule going forward, all on Saturday, Oct. 5. If the Brewers win Thursday, they'll play in Philadelphia at 3:08 p.m. Saturday.

• Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Guardians, 1:08 p.m.
• Mets/Brewers at Philadelphia Phillies, 3:08 p.m.
• Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees, 5:38 p.m.
• San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers, 7:38 p.m.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee drops jaw-dropping heartbreaker to Mets in ninth-inning collapse, 4-2