Rhys Hoskins hit a first-inning grand slam and the Milwaukee Brewers went on to hand the visiting New York Mets a costly loss, 8-4 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series with significant postseason implications.
The Mets (87-71), playing for the first time since Tuesday after a pair of hurricane-related postponements in Atlanta, dropped into a tie for the final two National League wild-card spots with the Braves (87-71), who blanked the Kansas City Royals 3-0 on Friday, and the Arizona Diamondbacks (88-72), who lost 5-3 to the San Diego Padres.
The Mets will play a makeup doubleheader on Monday at Atlanta.
Milwaukee (92-68), which clinched the NL Central last week, has secured the No. 3 seed in the playoffs and will host a wild-card series next week.
The Mets rallied within 7-4 with two runs in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Harrison Bader and an error on Brewers second baseman Brice Turang, who dropped J.D. Martinez’s pop into shallow right.
Gary Sanchez opened the bottom of the eighth with his 11th homer to make it 8-4.
Mets starter Sean Manaea (12-6), who had pitched into the seventh in each of his previous eight starts, allowed six runs, five earned, on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out one.
Brewers starter Frankie Montas gave up two runs in four innings. He struck out six and walked three. Joe Ross (3-6) got the win with three scoreless innings of relief. Trevor Megill closed with 1 1/3 shutout innings for his 21st save.
Hoskins staked the Brewers to a 4-0 lead with his third grand slam of the season and the fifth of his career. Turang singled to open the frame, and Wiliam Contreras and Willy Adames drew consecutive two-out walks. Hoskins then sent a 2-2 pitch 386 feet to left-center for his 26th homer.
It also was the Brewers’ 10th slam of the season, matching the team mark set in 1995.
The Brewers added an unearned run in the second when Blake Perkins reached on error, stole second and scored on Turang’s double to center.
Mark Vientos brought the Mets within 5-2 with two outs in the third with his 27th homer, after a leadoff walk to Francisco Alvarez.
The Brewers added a run in the fourth on consecutive two-out hits by Turang, Garrett Mitchell and Jackson Chourio, chasing Manaea.
Turang made it 7-2 in the sixth when he walked, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch.
Brewers right fielder Sal Frelick was helped off the field in the third inning, limping noticeably, after crashing into the wall in foul territory on Alvarez’s drive down the line.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was ejected in the fourth inning after an inning-ending third strike was called on Alvarez with two aboard.
Alvarez was removed in the seventh after sliding into third base. The team announced he was experiencing back spasms.
–Field Level Media
