MILWAUKEE — There’s nothing fairly like seeing the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel, getting a glimpse of land if you end up awash at sea, seeing the meals on the desk — close to however nonetheless an arm’s size away.
The Mets had been so devilishly near doing what had been executed within the AL, the place a pair of highway underdogs — Detroit and Kansas Metropolis — had gone into Houston and Baltimore and swept two video games and upset their method into the Division Sequence.
That was earlier within the day on Wednesday. And right here at night time the Mets had been out-Brewering the Brewers. Milwaukee gained the NL Central behind protection, baserunning and bullpen. And for almost two video games, the Mets had been higher in each a kind of phases.
The important thing ingredient in that earlier sentence: almost.
The Mets spent most of Sport 2 main. It was 3-2 within the eighth. There was the sunshine on the best way to Philadelphia. There was the glimpse of land to the Division Sequence. There was the meals — to be washed down with quite a lot of champagne.
However Carlos Mendoza turned away from Ryne Stanek after he had dominated an inning in Sport 2 as a lot as he had in Sport 1. That was the seventh. And he turned to Phil Maton to attempt to maintain the lead within the eighth. As a substitute, Jackson Chourio, who had led off the primary inning towards Sean Manaea by turning into the youngest participant at 20 years, 205 days outdated to homer within the postseason since Bryce Harper, at 19 in 2012, homered once more, to steer off the eighth.
It was tied. And if there have been an indication of veering magic on this collection, it was that Garrett Mitchell, put in as a pinch runner for DH Gary Sanchez two innings earlier, hit a successful two-run homer off Maton. That made the ultimate, 5-3. It means there might be a decisive Sport 3 on Wednesday night time.
It means the Mets are going to wish some heroes.
It means Jose Quintana should, at minimal, hold the Mets in it early. And that Starling Marte, who has performed so properly within the first two video games, wants one other. And, yeah, is there extra brilliance on the tip of the bat of Francisco Lindor as a result of his glove stays impeccable. And if the ball will get to him, Edwin Diaz can not falter with the Mets season on the road.
However increasingly, I hold returning to 1 identify: Pete Alonso.
Is that this actually how what is likely to be his final season — and days — as a Met are actually going to go? With him so bereft of massive hits in his stroll yr. In a season when a giant hit or two might have stored the Mets out of the excruciating baseball dungeon that was the previous couple of days of the season. And now when one would possibly be capable to get them to Philadelphia for the Division Sequence.
Alonso is right here for these form of hits, that form of would possibly. As a substitute, he has spent this final crucial week a model of Mark Grace, taking part in higher at first than maybe another time in his profession and taking a stroll or plunking a single. However there merely has been nothing game-changing coming from him.
It is extremely doable the largest hit of Alonso’s 2024 season got here on April 4 when he homered off Detroit’s Alex Faedo main off the ninth inning to tie the rating 1-1 in a recreation the Mets would win 2-1. It was the Mets’ first victory of 2024, and for Mendoza after 5 straight losses.
However that was April 4. Alonso’s 5 largest hits by win likelihood added — which measures the clutch worth of each at-bat — all got here within the first half of the season.
He hit simply .232 with runners in scoring place. He had 34 homers. Actually, identify 5 huge ones. This was a yr wherein Alonso might have constructed up his worth — to the trade and additional to the fan base to scream to not let him go away Flushing.
Alonso nonetheless has that probability. There might be at the very least three and presumably extra at-bats on Wednesday night time at American Household Subject. They could possibly be the final three or 4 of his Mets profession. Or they could possibly be a part of a greater legacy. They could possibly be a part of a case to remain. They could possibly be a purpose the Mets season doesn’t finish. They could possibly be why the Mets get to Philadelphia on Saturday.
The Mets want heroes. There are quite a lot of candidates.
However are they actually going to play an entire season with out Alonso delivering an enormous second after April?
