In the first game of a three-game series with major postseason implications, the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the visiting New York Mets 8–4 on Friday night after Rhys Hoskins blasted a grand slam in the first inning.
Playing for the first time since Tuesday following two postponements due to hurricanes in Atlanta, the Mets (87-71) and Braves (87-71), who shut out the Kansas City Royals 3-0 on Friday, are now tied for the third National League wild card.
The Arizona Diamondbacks (88-71), who were visiting the San Diego Padres later on Friday, are one half game ahead of both Atlanta and New York.
On Monday, the Mets will visit Atlanta for a makeup doubleheader.
After winning the NL Central last week, Milwaukee (92-68) has locked up the third spot in the postseason and will play host to a wild-card series the following week.
With two runs in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Harrison Bader and a Brewers second-error, the Mets closed the gap to 7-4.
With his third grand slam of the year and his fifth career, Hoskins gave the Brewers a 4-0 lead. After Turang singled to start the inning, Willy Adames and Wiliam Contreras both got walks with two outs in a row. Then, for his 26th home run, Hoskins launched a 2-2 pitch 386 feet to left centre.
In addition, it was the Brewers’ tenth grand slam of the year, matching the team record from 1995.
In the second, Blake Perkins reached on an error, stole second, and scored on Turang’s double to centre, giving the Brewers an unearned run.
After Francisco Alvarez walked to start the third, Mark Vientos hit his 27th home run to pull the Mets within 5-2 with two outs.
In the fourth, the Brewers added another run.
After Alvarez’s drive down the line collided with the wall in foul territory in the third inning, Brewers right fielder Sal Frelick was helped off the field with a noticeable limp.
After Alvarez was given a third strike with two outs in the fourth inning, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was removed.
Alvarez slipped into third base and was taken out in the sixth. The group declared that he was having back spasms.
–Media at the Field Level