The Mets were on the brink of victory in their Wild Card Series against the Brewers, holding a 3-2 lead in Game 2 after already winning the first game. But then came Jackson Chourio, the Brewers’ rookie star, to bat in the eighth inning.
Chourio smashed his second home run of the game, leveling the score and electrifying fans.
WE ARE ALL WITNESSES @Bryanchourio11
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers)
Garrett Mitchell stepped up as a pinch hitter later that inning and hit a two-run homer, sealing a 5-3 win for the Brewers. Phil Maton pitched for the Mets during that fateful eighth inning but gave up three runs on four hits, taking both a blown save and a loss despite an impressive season with a 2.51 ERA.
Managerial Decisions:
Questions swirled around why Edwin Díaz wasn’t used earlier by Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. Díaz was rested during Game 1, so fans wondered why he wasn’t brought in when Chourio and William Contreras were due to bat.
Mendoza explained post-game that Díaz had pitched heavily on Sunday and Monday to secure playoff entry for the Mets. While available for Game 2, he was limited to facing only “a few hitters.” Mendoza preferred Maton against Chourio instead.
Fans might think Mendoza should have prioritized using his best relievers against Milwaukee’s strongest hitters like Chourio and Contreras right when they were due up.
In regular season games, relievers stick to routines—like Díaz closing out ninth innings—but playoffs demand adaptability. The toughest outs came in the eighth inning this time; however, Mendoza saved Díaz for an opportunity that never arrived.
Ultimately, there was no need for bottom-of-the-ninth heroics as Milwaukee clinched it early. Now it’s down to Game 3 with everything at stake for New York.
Do you think saving Diaz was wise?
