The Milwaukee Brewers staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the New York Mets 5-3 in Game 2 of their National League wild card series on Wednesday, forcing a decisive Game 3. The Mets, who were just six outs away from advancing to the National League Division Series (NLDS), saw their lead slip away in the eighth inning as the Brewers capitalized on two crucial home runs.
New York entered the bottom of the eighth inning with a 3-2 lead, but Brewers’ lead-off hitter Jackson Chourio wasted no time tying the game. Chourio, a top contender for the National League Rookie of the Year, launched the first pitch he saw over the right-field wall for his second home run of the night. The solo shot brought the score to 3-3 and marked a pivotal moment in the game.
With the Mets’ bullpen running thin on options, manager Buck Showalter stuck with reliever Phil Maton, who had already allowed the game-tying homer. Just four batters later, Garrett Mitchell, who had pinch-run for Gary Sanchez earlier in the game, delivered a crushing two-run home run that put the Brewers ahead 5-3. The Mets, unable to mount a response in the final innings, saw their hopes of clinching the series in two games dashed.
New York’s offensive production started strong, scoring one run in the first inning and two in the second, but they were stifled by Milwaukee’s bullpen in the later frames. The Mets’ lineup, which struggled to produce after the early scoring bursts, combined to go just 4-for-21 among their first six batters. A key moment came in the sixth inning when the Mets had the bases loaded, but Jose Iglesias struck out, missing an opportunity to extend their lead. The team was held scoreless for the final seven innings.
On the other hand, the Brewers’ bullpen was lights out. After starter Frankie Montas lasted just 3.2 innings, Milwaukee relievers combined to pitch 5.1 innings of scoreless baseball, keeping the Mets at bay and allowing their offense the chance to strike late.
The series now heads to a decisive Game 3, where the Mets will turn to veteran left-hander Jose Quintana (10-10, 3.75 ERA), while the Brewers will counter with Tobias Myers (9-6, 3.00 ERA). The winner will advance to face the Philadelphia Phillies, the National League East champions and the No. 2 seed, in the NLDS. New York last reached the NLDS in 2015, while Milwaukee’s most recent appearance came in 2021.
