Milwaukee Brewers’ Ortiz Powers a Crushing Blow to Mets Playoff Aspirations

Joey Ortiz of the Milwaukee Brewers put on a stunning display, driving in three runs in a 6-0 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday night. The result dealt a significant blow to the Mets’ postseason ambitions, marking their third consecutive loss and pushing them one game behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League wild card race.

Braves’ Last-Minute Triumph Over Kansas City Adds to Mets’ Woes

Adding salt to the Mets’ wounds, the Braves claimed a 2-1 victory against Kansas City, courtesy of a ninth-inning, walk-off homer by former Met, Travis d’Arnaud. The Mets, however, managed to salvage some hope when the Arizona Diamondbacks fell to a 5-0 defeat against San Diego the same night. The Braves, Mets, and Diamondbacks, with scores of 88-71, 87-72, and 88-73 respectively, are vying for the last two wild-card playoff berths in the NL.

Mets’ Alonso: “Three Games, Three Opportunities”

“In order for us to get where we need to go, we need to capitalize on opportunities,” said Pete Alonso, the Mets’ first baseman. Both the Mets and Braves hold head-to-head tiebreaker advantages over the Diamondbacks. If their postseason fates remain unresolved, the Mets and Braves will face off in a Monday doubleheader in Atlanta.

Carlos Mendoza, the Mets’ manager, was frank about their predicament. “Not winning the past couple of days is putting us in a difficult situation. We’ve got to come back and we have to win a game tomorrow. That’s the bottom line.”

Brewers Surge to Victory with Ortiz’s Stellar Performance

Ortiz put the Brewers in the driving seat with a bases-loaded single, scoring two runs in the fourth inning. The Brewers then widened the gap in the eighth, adding four more runs off of Reed Garrett, marking the first runs he’d conceded since August 18. Ortiz and Willy Adames both contributed RBI singles, while Andruw Monasterio chipped in with a two-run single.

The Brewers, crowned NL Central champions, boast a formidable 12-1 record in their last 13 meetings with the Mets, including five victories this season. The Brewers also maintained a perfect stolen-base record against the Mets, stealing two more bases on Saturday.

High Strikeouts but Low Hits for the Mets

The Mets’ pitchers, including Jose Quintana and four relievers, managed an impressive 18 strikeouts, the most in a nine-inning game since striking out 20 against Pittsburgh on September 18, 2022. However, the team’s offense struggled, registering only two hits and being shut out for the first time since August 23.

The Brewers’ pitching crew, including Tobias Myers (9-6), Joel Payamps, Aaron Ashby, Nick Mears, and Devin Williams, held the Mets to just one hit and no walks over five innings.

Looking Forward: Mets and Brewers Prepare for Final Series Game

The Mets will be looking to rebound in the series finale with David Peterson (9-3, 3.08) taking the mound. The Brewers will counter with Colin Rea (12-5, 4.17) as they look to extend their dominant run. Both teams know that the stakes are high, with the playoff picture hanging in the balance.