Luis Severino delivers, Mets capitalize on Game 1 win over Brewers: Takeaways

The magic of the New York Mets is very much alive.

After clinching a playoff spot in epic fashion a day earlier, the Mets invaded the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series in Milwaukee on Tuesday. Brewers manager Pat Murphy pulled starter Freddy Peralta before facing the Mets lineup for a third time, and the Mets responded with five two-out runs in the fifth inning to take an 8-4 lead.

It was a devastating sequence for the Brewers, who had been in first place in the game. They sent eight men to the plate in the first inning against Mets starter Luis Severino and scored twice. The last thing the Mets needed after a doubleheader on Monday was a short start from Severino. But the Mets responded immediately, with Jesse Winker’s triple spurring a three-run baseball in the second inning and Severino delivering six innings of four-run baseball.

It all ended for Milwaukee when Murphy walked to reliever Joel Payamps in the fifth and took a one-run lead. With two outs, Jose Iglesias drove an RBI single to right field. Left-hander Aaron Ashby came in and the next five batters reached base: single, single, intentional walk, single, walk. It was Mark Vientos’ two-run knock that gave the Mets a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Sean Manaea will take the ball in Game 2 and the Brewers are on the verge of elimination. The Brewers scored six runs, five earned, against him last week. – Stephen J Nesbitt

Getting six innings from Severino was huge

By winning the first game of Monday’s doubleheader, the Mets were given the opportunity to save Luis Severino for Tuesday’s start. Still, their bullpen had felt the impact. Before Game 1, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza left open the possibility of closer Edwin Díaz and setup reliever Phil Maton showing up. But Díaz had thrown 60 shots in the last two days and Maton had appeared in three straight games. This likely gave the Mets solid leverage options in José Buttó, Ryne Stanek and Reed Garrett, but the back end was still at risk. So the best possible outcome for the Mets was always for Severino to last a while.

The veteran did his part. After a miserable first inning in which he gave up two runs, Severino settled down and delivered six solid innings (eight hits, four runs, two walks, three strikeouts). When the Mets saw Severino had a four-run lead with five runs in the fifth inning, he relied on his fastballs to give batters the lead, striking out six straight to complete his performance. It wasn’t Severino’s best day, but he provided the Mets with what they needed, and that’s what’s most important. — Will Sammon

It was a mistake to withdraw Peralta

The bullpen was a strength for the Brewers all season, with a 3.11 ERA that ranked best in the National League. Manager Pat Murphy seemed eager to use his substitutes in Game 1, even though his ace, Freddy Peralta, started the game. The bullpen warmed up in the second inning and early in the fourth inning, and as the door swung open in the top of the fifth inning, the lead and the game were lost.

Peralta had thrown just 68 pitches and retired his last nine batters, but Joel Payamps faced the bottom of the order in the fifth game. Payamps hadn’t allowed an earned run since August, but the Mets responded by firing off a five-run rally. They sent 11 batters to the plate off Payamps, Aaron Ashby and Nick Mears, and none struck out. Putting the ball in play paid off big time for the Mets, who turned a 4-3 deficit into an 8-4 lead, and Peralta’s withdrawal proved fatal for the Brewers. – Tyler Kepner

Mets show hustle and dynamic offense

They’re not stars – well, one is, but when it comes to music – but anyone paying attention to the Mets this season would have put second baseman Jose Iglesias and outfielder Tyrone Taylor on the Mets’ short list to set the tone . In the fifth inning, Iglesias fended off an infield hit, as he often did during the regular season. On a grounder to right, Iglesias passed reliever Joel Payamps to first base. On the play, Taylor scored from second base. With two outs, Taylor never stopped running. No surprise here either; With his exhilarating style, he had ensured spectacular performances throughout the season.

From then on, the Mets continued to score with a dynamic offense, which was on display Sunday against the Brewers. They waited, took advantage of errors, and pitched a five-run inning on five hits, including four singles, and two walks.

The Mets have the edge over the Brewers when it comes to hitting and hitting home runs. In the playoffs, the power against top pitchers is enormous. But it helps to be multidimensional. — Will Sammon

Postseason misery reigns again in Milwaukee

Tuesday’s loss was the 10th in 11 postseason games for the Brewers, starting with Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS, when they lost at home to the Dodgers with a chance to win the second pennant in their history. In order, the Brewers lost the 2019 NL Wild Card Game in Washington, lost two straight games to the Dodgers in the first round in 2020, lost three of four games to Atlanta in a 2021 NLDS, and lost both home games to Arizona in the Wild lost card series last fall and now this. It’s not quite the 2003-2023 Minnesota Twins… but it’s a clear and discouraging trend. –Tyler Kepner

(Top photo by Luis Severino: John Fisher/Getty Images)