Vientos’ Decisive Hit Propels Mets to Victory in NL Wild Card Opener

Mark Vientos emerged as the hero, delivering a pivotal two-run single in the middle of a fifth-inning rally, helping the resilient New York Mets to an 8-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the opening match of the NL Wild Card Series on Tuesday. Fresh off a nail-biting win in a makeup doubleheader in Atlanta the day after the regular season ended, the Mets are now just one win away from moving on to the NL Division Series in Philadelphia.

Mets’ Playoff Journey

Mets’ manager Carlos Mendoza expressed his confidence post game, stating, “You could sense our determination the moment we got on the plane. We had our celebrations in Atlanta and quickly shifted our focus to the next game.” The history of the current postseason format, which debuted in 2022 and features four best-of-three Wild Card Series, backs his optimism. The Game 1 victors have advanced in all eight series played thus far, with only one series reaching a decisive third game.

Brewers’ Playoff Struggles Continue

The Brewers, on the other hand, have struggled in recent playoff outings, losing 10 of their last 11, a streak that started with a crushing home defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2018 NL Championship Series.

Jesse Winker and pinch-hitter J.D. Martinez added to the Brewers’ woes, driving in two runs each for the Mets. Brice Turang, Jackson Chourio, and William Contreras put up a valiant fight for the Brewers, but it wasn’t enough to halt the Mets’ momentum.

Mets’ Resilience Shines Through

The Mets, who had to win one out of two games in Atlanta to secure their playoff spot, showed their grit yet again. Barely 22 hours after their doubleheader in Atlanta, they displayed similar resilience on the Milwaukee field. “Playing in the playoffs, you can’t afford to be tired. We were all pumped up and ready to deliver,” Vientos said.

After giving up the lead to the Brewers in the first inning, the Mets retaliated with three runs in the second. The Brewers regained the lead in the fourth, but the Mets responded with a five-run fifth inning to secure the victory.

Fifth Inning Drama and Stellar Pitching

The Brewers’ decision to pull starter Freddy Peralta backfired, as the Mets capitalized on their strong bullpen. Despite an early lead, the Brewers were unable to contain the Mets’ offensive onslaught. Luis Severino, the Mets’ starter, rebounded from a rough start, allowing four runs and eight hits over six innings to secure the win. José Buttó and Ryne Stanek threw perfect innings to close out the game.

“We have a lot of potential in our team, and we’re not going to stop fighting until we win the World Series,” Severino said.

Game 2 will see the Mets’ Sean Manaea face off against the Brewers’ Frankie Montas, with the Mets hoping to continue their winning streak.