MILWAUKEE — The Mets returned on Friday night to the scene of one of the greatest victories in franchise history: American Family Field, where Pete Alonso hit a go-ahead three-run homer off Devin Williams in the ninth inning to help send the Mets to an improbable Wild Card Series victory in 2024.
Then the Mets reminded everyone that it’s not 2024 with one of their most heartbreaking losses of 2025.
Their 3-2 loss to the Brewers ended when Starling Marte was thrown out at the plate by centerfielder Blake Perkins on Jeff McNeil’s single. The call was reviewed, it stood, and the Mets lost their fifth in a row and ninth in 10 games.
“Hell of a play by Perkins,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We know he’s a solid defender with a plus-plus arm, and he showed it right there. He came in, attacked that single, and a perfect one-hop throw to the plate to end the game. You’ve got to take a chance there. 100%. 100%.”
Mendoza could have used Tyrone Taylor to pinch run, but he said of Marte: “He’s fine. He’s a good runner, too.”
Since moving to 45-24 on June 12, the Mets are 18-29. They trail the NL East-leading Phillies by 3 1⁄2 games and hold a 3 1⁄2-game lead over the Reds for the final wild-card spot.
The Brewers (71-44), who have the best record in baseball, are 46-16 in their last 62 games.
Alonso, who is one home run short of tying Darryl Strawberry for the franchise lead, led off the ninth against Milwaukee closer Trevor Megill.
A little more Mets Magic in Milwaukee? Hardly. Alonso (0-for-4) grounded out to second.
After Brandon Nimmo flied out, Marte doubled, the Mets’ first hit since the fourth inning. McNeil dunked a single into center, but Perkins made a perfect throw to nail the sliding Marte.
Ballgame.
“He was able to make a great play right there,” Marte said through an interpreter. “He was able to get the ball in quick. Tremendous throw on one bounce. So you’ve got to give him credit over there.”
More Mets misery: The eventual winning run for Milwaukee scored on a hit batter in an inning in which the Mets committed two errors.
The Mets took a 2-0 lead on home runs by Juan Soto (first inning) and Marte (second) off Brandon Woodruff. Kodai Senga threw four impressive innings.
But it all unraveled in an unsightly fifth that included an E-1, an E-2, two walks and the devastating hit by pitch.
The inning started on a chopper by Perkins to the first-base side of the mound that Senga bobbled for an error. Brice Turang rocketed the next pitch 424 feet to right for a tying two-run homer.
Senga walked No. 9 hitter Joey Ortiz before Sal Frelick grounded into what looked to be a 4-6 forceout. But hold on: Frelick’s bat had made the slightest contact with Francisco Alvarez’s mitt. The catcher’s interference was scored an E-2 and there were two runners on. Then there were three when Senga walked William Contreras to load the bases.
Mendoza called in lefty Brooks Raley to face switch hitter Isaac Collins. After getting ahead 0-and-2, Raley hit Collins with a pitch to make it 3-2.
Senga (79 pitches) went 4 1⁄3 innings to continue the Mets’ disturbing trend of short starts.
Another disturbing trend for the Mets is their underperforming offense. After Marte hit the first pitch of the second for a home run, Woodruff allowed one single and walked two in his final six innings. He retired the final 10 batters and handed the Brewers’ bullpen a 3-2 lead going to the eighth.
Before the game, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns didn’t hesitate when he was asked if blame for the team’s recent offensive malaise should be laid at the feet of the team’s two hitting coaches, Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes.
“No,” he said. “I have confidence in our hitting coaches. I think we have good hitting coaches. They have track records of helping to lead and put together really quality offenses. This is, at times, baseball, and it will drive you crazy.”
The Mets came to the land of beer, brats and cheese curds after what they hoped was the low point of their current drought: getting no-hit for 8 1⁄3 innings by Cleveland’s Gavin Williams on Wednesday before Soto homered in a 4-1 loss at Citi Field.
Now the question is: How low can they go?
Notes & quotes: Paul Blackburn (shoulder) allowed three runs (two earned) in 5 1⁄3 innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
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