(2024) Pete Alonso's 9th Inning HR Clinches an Amazing NLWC Series Comeback Win

Thursday October 3rd, 2024: Throughout the 2024 season, I have been shanking my head in disbelief at this team, always in a good way. I admit, I counted them out in May, late in the season, in Atlanta & certainly in Milwaukee. As a lifelong Mets fan of almost sixty years, I have been thru some good times (I was at Shea for Game #6 in 1986) & suffered thru many bad times. I doubted this bunch & I was wrong. I love how they keep shutting me up, leaving me speechless shaking my head in happy disbelief. Amazing.

After a devastating Game #2 loss, Carlos Mendoza's Mets went up against Pat Murphy's Brewers in the winner take all Game #3 of the NLWC series in Milwaukee. 41,594 filled up American Family Field as Brewers Hall of Famer Robin Yount threw out the ceremonial first pitch things were soon underway.

The Mets Jose Quintina (10-10/ 3.74 ERA / 135 Ks) took on the Brewers Tobias Myers (9-6 / 3.00ERA / 127 Ks). Myers made three trips to AAA & back during the season, joining the Brewers staff for good in June.

For Quintina, after falling to 6-9 with a 4.57 ERA, since August 31st, he was 4-1 with a 0.90 ERA with opponents hitting just .200 against him.

Tobias Myers, baffled the Mets thru five innings, allowing just two hits to Francisco Lindor. He struck out five, walked nobody & had the Mets looking like they didn't even show up.

Jose Quintina, put in an outstanding post season performance of his own. He went six innings, shutting out the Brewers on four hits, striking out five with one walk. Amazing.

This was old fashioned baseball at its best, scoreless thru six innings in the final game of a playoff series.

In the bottom of the 7th, the usually reliable Jose Butto got rocked for back-to-back HRs from pinch hitter Jack Bauers & right fielder Sal Frelick as Milwaukee's American Family Field went wild. It looked like the end for the Mets.

Trivia: Bauers had hit 12 HRs in 117 games & Frelick had hit just two HRs in 145 games on the season. 

In the top of the 8th, Brewers manager Pat Murphy brought Game #1 starter Freddy Perlata in to pitch. Starling Marte grounded out; Tyrone Taylor flew out & Francisco Alvarez grounded out for the third out. It looked like the end for the Mets. 

Edwin Diaz came on in the 7th to relieve Butto. He issued two walks two stolen bases, but did get out of the inning. In the 8th, he struck out Willy Adames, got Gary Sanchez to ground out & struck out Jake Bauers.

In the top of the 9th, the Brewers Devin Williams came on to pitch, as all of Milwaukee was on their feet cheering. I couldn't bear to watch. Then I heard the cheers from my window & the texts lit up my phone. Francisco Lindor drew a walk, there was some life. After Mark Vientos struck out, Brandon Nimmo singled to right field & Lindor went into third base. There was more life. 

Pete Alonso stepped up to the plate. Alonso was 1-8 with three walks in the NLWC series. In his contract year, although he hit 34 HRs with 88 RBIs & a .788 OPS it wasn't enough for the toughest critics of fans & media. I may have doubted things thru the season, but I always stood by Pete. After all he was the best player on the team since 2019 & his numbers this season were still very good. 

More importantly, Pete still believed in himself & his team believed in him, his manager kept saying "he's one swing away".

That swing came on in the 9th inning, of the final Game #3 of the NLWC series in Milwaukee with
the Mets down 2-0 & their backs against the wall. Alonso cleared the right field wall with a three run HR, the biggest of his career putting the Mets up 3-2. His entire team was on the field celebrating & awaiting him by the dugout.

Quotes- Pete Alonso: "I'm just so happy I can come through for the boys right here. I'm just so excited for this group."

Milwaukee was now quiet, New York was rocking & the Empire State Building was lit up Blue & Orange. OMG for sure. My head was once again shaking in happy disbelief.

Trivia: According to MLB he is the first player to hit a go-ahead HR in the 9th inning or later for a team behind of a winner take all post season game. 

It was Alonso's first HR since September 19th, twelve games & 38 at bats ago. Out of his 34 HRs in 2024 only two were hit the opposite way to right field.

If that wasn't enough, the Mets poured it on some more. The most hated man in Milwaukee, Jesse Winker was hit by a pitch. With all of Milwaukee booing & taunting him, he gave it right back & stole third base. 

Then he gave them the KO, scoring on Starling Marte's base hit to right field. Winker slid headfirst into home plate, shattered his helmet throwing it to the ground & shouted out loud in happiness. Amazing.

In the bottom of the 9th, David Peterson came on to close it out. Since August 8th, Peterson was 5-2 with a 2.35 ERA. After giving up a lead off base hit to Sal Frelick, he struck out Joey Ortiz. 

Then Brice Turang, grounded to Francisco Lindor as he turned an unassisted spectacular double play, ending the exciting game, clinching the NLWC series. 

The Mets advanced to the NLDS for the first time since 2015.

Trivia: It was David Peterson's first career save.

Quotes- Carlos Mendoza: "We get knocked down again in the middle of that game, in the 7th inning after back-to-back HRs, & then there's a sense of belief in that dugout. I'm watching unfold the whole situation, we're going to the 9th & see Lindor & I also looking on deck & I see Pete Alonso right next to me. And I'm going Pete this is gonna be it right here. Lindor gets on & I'm thinking get the big boy up to the plate. We got him up & he came through. I said it last night, he's one swing away, we need a couple of guys on & he can carry us deep into October.

Note: Brandon Nimmo learned of the passing of his grandmother an hour before the game. After the win, he said this is what it's all about, you can't take it with you.