Wild-Card Takeaways: Alonso’s home run propels Amazin’ Mets to dramatic victory

OMG.

There’s no doubt that the New York Mets’ favourite phrase really does a great job of describing this team.

The club completed its second ninth-inning comeback in four days on Thursday and this time it was even more magical.

On the brink of elimination, Pete Alonso hit a three-run home run to propel the Mets to a 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the do-or-die third game of the National League wild-card series.

The Mets advanced to the division series to play the NL East-rival Philadelphia Phillies. There will be time to look ahead to that tantalizing matchup but, before that, let’s take some time to appreciate another masterpiece from these Miracle Mets.

Here are some takeaways from Game 3.

ALONSO’S SIGNATURE MOMENT

It was shaping up to be a dismal end for Alonso. The first baseman is a pending free agent and this could have been his last game with the organization that drafted and developed him. If it were, he would have ended his Mets tenure with a whimper.

Alonso hadn’t done much at the dish during the wild-card series and he was in an extended slump dating back several weeks. His last home run came on Sept. 19.

However, when the slugger stepped to the plate in the ninth inning against Brewers closer Devin Williams on Thursday night, he had an opportunity to change the narrative.

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He did so emphatically.

With two runners on and the Mets down 2-0, Alonso worked a 3-1 count before depositing a change-up from Williams over the right-field fence. It silenced the crowd and Alonso knew the opposite-field homer was gone as soon as he made contact. He began celebrating as such, creating an image that you’re going to see on repeat for years to come.

The 29-year-old Alonso will don his Mets uniform for at least a few more games before he hits free agency. Whatever happens, though, he’ll always have his signature moment with the club, one that he authored in dramatic fashion on Thursday night.

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“This is something that you practise in the backyard as a kid,” Alonso said during an on-field, post-game interview with ESPN. “This has been unreal. What a ride.”

LINDOR THE LEADER

While Alonso will dominate the highlights and news cycle, Francisco Lindor’s contributions to New York’s improbable victory shouldn’t be overlooked.

The MVP candidate hit the go-ahead homer in the ninth inning of Monday’s playoff-clinching win against the Atlanta Braves and, in the ninth frame on Thursday, he played the role of stage setter.

Lindor led off the inning and fouled off a few tough pitches from Williams, one of the best closers in the sport, en route to drawing a walk in the eight-pitch at-bat. It was a clutch, professional plate appearance from the veteran and lit the fire for the Mets.

Mark Vientos struck out, but Brandon Nimmo singled and that brought up Alonso, who added his exclamation mark.

Lindor, who produced 7.8 fWAR this season and will likely finish behind only Shohei Ohtani in NL MVP voting, is the heart and soul of the Mets. He helped will the team to the post-season with his play down the stretch and, on Thursday, he collected two of the club’s five hits.

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The shortstop put on a defensive clinic throughout the contest and, fittingly, turned a brilliant game-ending double play when he fielded a grounder from Brice Turang and alertly rushed to second base himself before firing a bullet to first base.

ALMOST HEROES

The Brewers had American Family Field rocking in the seventh inning when it looked like they were closing in on a wild-card victory.

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Jake Bauers delivered a pinch-hit homer off Mets reliever Jose Butto to break a scoreless tie and then Sal Frelick took the very next pitch over the right-field fence to make it 2-0.

The Brewers’ blitzkrieg put the club on the brink of advancing to the DS and had Bauers and Frelick set up to be post-season heroes in Milwaukee. That changed quickly, though, as the efforts of the two almost heroes were overshadowed.

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