September 28 – Rhys Hoskins hits a grand slam in the first inning and the Milwaukee Brewers lose to the visiting New York Mets, 8–4, on Friday night), the first game of a three-game series with major playoff implications.
The Mets (87-71), playing for the first time since Tuesday after Atlanta had two games postponed because of a storm, are tied with the Braves (87-71) for the final two National League wild-card spots. The Kansas City Royals beat the Kansas City Royals 3-0 and the Arizona Diamondbacks (88-72) lost to the San Diego Padres 5-3.
The Mets will play a make-up doubleheader in Atlanta on Monday.
The Milwaukee Bucks (92-68), who clinched the NFC Central division title last week, have clinched the third seed in the playoffs and will host a wild-card series next week.
The Mets went ahead 7-4 in the eighth inning on Harrison Bader’s sacrifice fly and an error by Brewers second baseman Brice Turang, who hit J.D. Martinez’s pop-up to right.
Gary Sánchez hit his 11th home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the score 8–4.
Mets starter Sean Manaea (12-6), who has pitched the seventh inning in each of his last eight starts, allowed 6 runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings, striking out 5. He walked twice and struck out one.
Brewers starter Frankie Montas allowed two runs in four innings. He struck out six and walked three. Joe Ross (3-6) earned the win with three scoreless innings in relief. Trevor Megill earned his 21st save with 1 1/3 innings of a shutout.
Hoskins gave the Brewers a 4-0 lead by earning his third major league win of the season and fifth of his career. Turang started the game by singled, and William Contreras and Willy Adames homered with two outs. Hoskins then hit a 2-2 pitch 386 feet to left-center for his 26th home run.
It was the Brewers’ 10th grand slam of the season, tying the franchise record set in 1995.
The Brewers added an unearned run in the second when Blake Perkins fell to second, scoring on Turang’s double to center.
Mark Vientos hit his 27th homer with two outs in the third inning after Francisco Álvarez’s leadoff walk put the Mets chase at 5–2.
The Brewers added a run in the fourth inning off Turang, Garrett Mitchell and Jackson Jolio to chase Manaia with two outs.
In the sixth inning, Turang came on base, stole second, passed the ball to advance to third, and scored on a crazy pitch, making the score 7–2.
Brewers right fielder Sal Frelic was helped off the field in the third inning, appearing to limp after Alvarez’s hit down the line hit the wall in foul territory.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was ejected in the fourth inning after Álvarez’s third hit in the bottom of the inning allowed two runs.
Alvarez was taken out in the seventh inning after sliding into third base. The team announced he was suffering from back spasms.
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