Pete Alonso’s Game-Winning HR Amazes Fans as Mets Eliminate Brewers in MLB Playoffs
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Pete Alonso’s three-run homer with one out in the ninth inning propelled the New York Mets to a dramatic 4-2 comeback win over the Milwaukee Brewers in a win-or-go-home Game 3 of their National League Wild Card Series on Thursday.
x – New York Mets @MetsTHE POLAR BEAR!!!!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING RIGHT NOW???? pic.twitter.com/cBxKzRDp1K
With runners on the corners and one out, Alonso drilled a 3-1 pitch off Brewers closer Devin Williams over the right-center field fence, putting the Mets up 3-2. Starling Marte later delivered an RBI single to score Jesse Winker for a key insurance run.
MLB @MLBStarling Marte tacks on another run for the @Mets! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/Ep49jTDTxO
Sal Frelick led off the ninth with a single, but a strikeout and a double play ended the game. Starter David Peterson got the save for the Mets after relieving usual closer Edwin Diaz, who had pitched the last 1.2 innings.
x – New York Mets @MetsHOW ‘BOUT THEM METS? #MetsWin #LGM pic.twitter.com/6I9BJvmaEP
Entering the ninth inning, Francisco Lindor was the only Met to get a hit or reach base, going 2-for-3 with a double and a single. He led off the ninth with a walk before a Brandon Nimmo single moved him to third.
Alonso then delivered the monumental blow, and the Mets are now headed to Philadelphia to begin the National League Division Series against the Phillies on Saturday.
Mets starter José Quintana was sensational for New York, shutting out the Brewers over six innings while striking out five and allowing just four hits and a walk.
But Milwaukee broke through in the seventh inning after José Butto allowed back-to-back home runs to Jake Bauers and Frelick on consecutive pitches.
MLB @MLBJAKE BAUERS!
SCORELESS NO MORE! #POSTSEASON pic.twitter.com/0IOt32TlGb
MLB @MLBSAL FRELICK GOES BACK-TO-BACK!!! #POSTSEASON pic.twitter.com/OqZMZYmRZ5
Meanwhile, New York’s bats were quiet for eight frames, continuing a scoreless streak from Game 2. The Mets took a 3-1 lead after two frames in Game 2 but were shut out for the final seven innings en route to a 5-3 loss.
The Brewers’ Game 3 starter, Tobias Myers, stymied the Mets over five innings, striking out five. Three Brewers relievers, including starting pitcher Freddy Peralta, constructed a bridge to the ninth via three shutout innings.
But Williams, a two-time All-Star with a lifetime 1.83 ERA over six seasons, could not close the door.
He had only given up 15 homers over his 235.2 career innings and just one this year in 22 appearances. But Alonso delivered when the Mets needed him most, exciting many fans, including Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Donovan Mitchell among others.
Donovan Mitchell @spidadmitchellOHHHHH MY GODDDD PETEEEEEEEEE
Donovan Mitchell @spidadmitchellLETS GOOOOOOOOO @Mets
socks39 @socko203Thank you baseball gods. Thank you Pete Alonso. #mets you finally showed up when we absolutely needed it.
jack @Jolly_Olivepic.twitter.com/H6dZ0Rzpae
Sean Fennessey @SeanFennesseyThis is … happiness?
anDrew @StarshapedgummyPete Alonso! are you kidding me???@Mets #Mets #BaseBall #LFGM #LGM pic.twitter.com/g9R5myabhK
Alonso mustered just five singles in his last 40 at-bats for a .125 batting average entering the ninth inning at-bat.
The impending free agent also dropped William Contreras’ foul pop-up in the bottom of the seventh inning with runners on second and third and two outs. Brewers fans seemed to enjoy that error.
Jomboy Media @JomboyMediaBrewers fans were laughing in Pete Alonso’s face 😠pic.twitter.com/Oknw9qLhE0
Contreras struck out swinging to prevent the Brewers from inflicting more damage, but therein lied the possibility that Alonso, an impending free agent, could be ending his Mets tenure in the worst way possible.
But Alonso flipped the script in the ninth, and the Mets added another chapter to a storybook 2024 season that makes them a team of destiny.
New York once started 0-5 and fell 11 games under .500 in early June but rallied in the season’s final four months. The vibes were immaculate behind the power of Grimace and OMG from June to September, and the Mets qualified for the playoffs in Game 161 behind Francisco Lindor’s game-winning two-run homer to shock the Atlanta Braves in an 8-7 win.
The Mets then entered the NL Wild Card Series against the Brewers and took Game 1, 8-4. Game 2 looked to be in hand, but the Mets blew a 3-2 lead in the eighth after Phil Maton gave up a pair of homers.
The offense stayed dormant for nearly all of Game 3, and the bullpen struggled again, but the 2024 version of the Miracle Mets delivered in the ninth.
Fans were equal parts excited and elated and stunned and bewildered following the Mets’ comeback.
Cara Jeffrey @cara_jeffreyNobody has loved being a New York Met more than Pete Alonso. He needed that just as much as we did
YFK @YourFriendKyle_I’m in utter disbelief that Pete Alonso did something productive in a situation of that magnitude
choco @ItzChoco__Mets fans.
We all had no hope at the end, I didn’t either.
Pete Alonso shut up the entire fanbase. He shut us all up.
This season isn’t over. We’re gonna keep fighting. We’re gonna keep grinding.
GOODNIGHT, METS FANS. #LGM #MetsWIN pic.twitter.com/9q8mivXpOI
WIP Sucks @brianmpysherI need Alonso to be a lifetime Met
Conor Green @Conor_Green51Pete Alonso went from the most hated man on the team to one of their biggest playoff heroes with one swing
Reek @CardinalsReekAll time aura saving moment by Alonso. It’s like a win probability swing but for his career
Hammy @jetsoriolesMets fans should be bowing down to Pete Alonso right now.
Marc Luino @GiraffeNeckMarcI’m having a son named Pete Alonso Luino https://t.co/YoMN2IiHIm
New York will now begin its best-of-five NLDS on Saturday in Philadelphia. Game 1 is set for 4:08 p.m. ET.
