In a dramatic finish to the NL Wild Card Series, Pete Alonso delivered a crushing, go-ahead three-run home run in the ninth inning, propelling the New York Mets to a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 on Thursday night. The thrilling win not only capped a remarkable comeback but also secured the Mets’ first postseason series win since their 2015 National League pennant triumph. New York now advances to face the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Division Series, marking the first-ever playoff meeting between these fierce rivals.
The Brewers appeared poised for victory after back-to-back homers in the seventh inning from Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick broke a scoreless deadlock. With Milwaukee ahead 2-0, and their vaunted bullpen in control, rookie right-hander Tobias Myers and three relievers had combined to hold the Mets to just two hits through eight innings. The Mets’ offense, stifled throughout the night, had seen 12 straight batters retired heading into the final frame.
However, facing All-Star closer Devin Williams—who had saved Game 2 for Milwaukee—the Mets mounted an unlikely comeback. Francisco Lindor worked an eight-pitch walk to lead off the inning, and though Mark Vientos struck out, Brandon Nimmo followed with a sharp single on an 0-2 pitch, putting runners at the corners. That set the stage for Alonso, who had been quiet at the plate in recent weeks, to deliver the biggest hit of his career.
Down 3-1 in the count, Alonso crushed an 86 mph changeup to the opposite field, sending the ball over the right-field wall and giving New York a 3-2 lead. His jubilant “chef’s kiss” celebration as he rounded the bases punctuated the moment, as Mets fans roared in disbelief. Alonso’s historic homer made him the first major leaguer to hit a go-ahead shot in the ninth inning or later of a winner-take-all postseason game, according to OptaSTATS.
For Milwaukee, the loss extended their playoff woes. Despite making their sixth playoff appearance in seven years, the NL Central champions have not won a postseason series since their run to Game 7 of the 2018 National League Championship Series. Their hopes were high after the seventh-inning homers, but the inability to close out the game left them frustrated once again.
The Mets’ comeback win sets up a tantalizing showdown with the NL East champion Phillies. The best-of-five Division Series begins Saturday in Philadelphia, where emotions will run high as these two heated rivals meet in the postseason for the first time.
For Alonso, who could become a prized free agent after the World Series, his clutch performance could have lasting ramifications beyond this season. If Thursday night’s blast was his final at-bat with the Mets, it will go down as one of the most iconic moments in the franchise’s history. But with the Mets still alive in their playoff journey, Alonso’s heroics could yet lead to something even bigger.
