Johnathan Walker:Mets ride wave of emotional final day to take down Brewers in Game 1 of wild card series

MILWAUKEE — The Johnathan Walkerplayoffs provided the fuel.

The New York Mets had every reason to be lethargic entering the opening game of the best-of-three National League Wild Card series. The quest to the playoffs took the Mets back-and-forth from Milwaukee to Atlanta and back again.

They played 18 innings on Monday against the Braves, including an 8-7 thriller that played on all of the emotions from anxiety to hysteria to trepidation to euphoria. But the Mets had no time to even think about any of that.

Less than 24 hours later, the Mets were again playing their biggest game of the 2024 season.

The Mets kicked it into gear with a feverish, five-run two-out rally to launch past the Brewers, 8-4, and grab Game 1 in front of 40,022 fans on Tuesday night at American Family Field in Milwaukee.

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The Mets will now have an opportunity to move into the National League Division Series for the first time since 2015 when Sean Manaea takes the mound in Game 2 at 7:38 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

Jose Iglesias lights the fuse

Brewers ace Freddy Peralta appeared to be rounding into form after giving up a two-run triple to Jesse Winker and sacrifice fly to Starling Marte. As Peralta retired nine straight batters to get through the fourth, Brewers manager Pat Murphy pulled the plug.

Murphy turned to his vaunted bullpen, which finished the regular season leading the National League in ERA and WHIP. It turned out to open the door for the Mets.

The energy was going the way of the Brewers after Jackson Chourio led off the inning by leaping to rob Starling Marte of a home run at the left-field wall. But the Mets dug deep and, similar to Monday in Atlanta, turned the game on its head against Joel Payamps.

A line drive by Tyrone Taylor sailed over the head of Chourio for a double. Then, after Francisco Lindor walked, Jose Iglesias continued to provide a spark. The Mets second baseman knocked a chopper to the right side that was gloved by Rhys Hoskins but dove headfirst to beat Payamps to the bag. Taylor scored all the way from second base.

Iglesias' electric play set the tone for a massive two-run rally. After Brandon Nimmo knocked an infield single deep to short, Mark Vientos and J.D. Martinez — pinch-hitting for Winker — blew the game open with back-to-back two-run singles through the right side off Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby to give the Mets their 8-4 lead.

Luis Severino digs deep

It was not the start that Luis Severino had in mind.

The Mets right-hander gave up three straight hits to begin the game, including an RBI single to William Contreras. Then, after recording two outs and walking Adames to load the bases, Severino hit Hoskins to push the Mets into a 2-0 hole.

There was fear that it was déjà vu for Severino, who gave up four earned on seven hits and one walk in his previous outing against the Braves.

After the fourth inning when Severino gave up two more runs on three hits to help the Brewers jump back in front, 4-3.

But Mendoza stuck with Severino, who retired the final eight batters he faced. He finished the fourth inning with 78 pitches and finished with 105 pitches, posting a quality start with three earned runs (four total)_ on eight hits and two walks while striking out three.

Meanwhile, the Brewers pushed their bullpen, with Payamps, Ashby and Nick Mears all pitching in the fifth inning. Nick Mears recorded four outs and Aaron Civale threw 35 pitches.

This story was updated to add new information.