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    • Miscues by Brewers’ Jackson Chourio, Joel Payamps in fifth-place Brewers
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    Miscues by Brewers’ Jackson Chourio, Joel Payamps in fifth-place Brewers

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    If there was ever a time for the Milwaukee Brewers to live up to their postseason mantra of “Undaunted,” the time is now.

    After a nightmarish fifth inning that saw the New York Mets cross the line five times, thanks in large part to some key defensive blunders, the Brewers are just one game away from elimination after dropping Game 1 of their National League wild card. matchup, 8-4, at American Family Field on Tuesday night.

    A crowd of 40,022 rode the roller coaster of emotions as Milwaukee took a two-run lead in the first inning, fell behind and pulled away to take the lead again in the fourth, before the wheels completely fell off in the fifth.

    Game 1 box score: Mets 8, Brouwers 4

    It was the Brewers’ sixth consecutive postseason loss since 2021.

    There were some solid individual performances, with starter Freddy Peralta bouncing back from a tough second batter to retire the last nine batters he faced before being pulled, Brice Turang collecting three hits – including doubles in each of his first two at-bats – and there scored two. runs and Jackson Chourio singled twice in his first playoff game.

    But it wasn’t nearly enough, and now Milwaukee will have to narrow the odds: Teams that win Game 1 of the wild-card series have won the series 14 out of 16 times.

    Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:38 PM.

    Freddy Peralta fails to transfer the momentum

    Things looked good early for Peralta, who first struck out in a 1-2-3 and then got a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame.

    But the good fortune didn’t last long, as the Mets responded with a single, a walk, a two-run triple by ex-Brewer Jesse Winker and then a sacrifice fly to take the lead. Things were already so dire at that point that Milwaukee’s bullpen quickly became active.

    It was a sequence somewhat reminiscent of the way Peralta faltered at the end of the fourth and beginning of the fifth in his Game 2 start against the Arizona Diamondbacks in last year’s wild-card series.

    Peralta regained control to end the second and eventually got through four innings before giving way to Joel Payamps.

    Willy Adames and Jesse Winker exchange words

    Winker, whose one-year tenure in Milwaukee in 2023 did not go well, was lustfully booed by Brewers fans as he headed to the plate for his first at-bat in the second.

    He battled Peralta for eight pitches, eventually sending a changeup downfield but across the plate to the right corner to score a pair and tie the game.

    Undoubtedly a big moment for Winker, and he celebrated it wildly by shouting and gesticulating at the New York dugout. Apparently something Winker said, or just the optics of Winker’s gestures, rubbed Willy Adames the wrong way and the Milwaukee shortstop made his feelings known.

    That’s where the moment ended, but it was an interesting look at two former teammates now at it in the heat of the moment.

    Quite a series for Jackson Chourio

    You had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before the Brewers’ prized rookie made his presence felt.

    He hit his first at bat in the first inning with a single to score a run, then singled again with two on in the fourth to tie the Brewers at 3–3. At 20 years and 204 days, he became the youngest player to score multiple hits in his postseason debut.

    Chourio then made what looked like a home run-saving catch as he jumped up and belted a drive to the wall to Starling Marte’s left to open the fifth.

    The piece prompted Payamps to pound his fist on his chest, earning a huge ovation from the audience.

    But one batter later, the ball found Chourio again and this time he wasn’t so lucky as he misread Tyrone Taylor’s liner. The ball landed over his head for a double, kick-starting what would become a game-turning five-run rally.

    Nightmare fifth for Aaron Ashby

    Aaron Ashby deserves all the credit in the world for coming all the way back from the left shoulder surgery he underwent in early 2023 and making the postseason roster.

    But Tuesday will be a day he’ll want to quickly erase from memory, as he faced five batters in the decisive fifth behind Payamps and didn’t retire a single one.

    Ashby came in with runners on first and second base and two outs and the score was tied at 4-4 and was greeted by a counterfield single by Brandon Nimmo, which loaded the bases.

    Mark Vientos, next, singled to right to plate a pair. The Brewers opted to bring in the dangerous Pete Alonso to load the bases again, and J.D. Martinez came off the bench to bounce a two-run single to right.

    Marte, the man who led off the inning at the plate, walked and that was it for Ashby as Nick Mears ended the inning.

    Joel Payamps deserves some blame

    Chourio’s misplay opened the door to the big inning.

    But if Payamps does one thing that has been drilled into pitchers’ minds since the opening day of spring training — cover first base — the Mets might not have had a dent on the scoreboard at all.

    Taylor was on second base and Francisco Lindor on first base when José Iglesias hit a sharp grounder to first base, which Rhys Hoskins smothered with his feet.

    But Payamps did not immediately break for first, with his slight hesitation making the difference as Iglesias headed safely to the base, with Taylor never slowing down as he scored from second.

    Considering how strong the Brewers defense was this year, it was shocking to see a few missteps turn the tide so quickly.

    (This story has been updated to change or add a photo or video.)

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