MILWAUKEE _ The Mets' offense has been as cold as the arctic, so it only made sense that the player they call the polar bear changed the game
With the Mets trailing the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 in the top of the ninth Saturday night at Miller Park, rookie Pete Alonso teed off on the first pitch he saw from right-hander Junior Guerra, depositing the ball into the Mets' bullpen in right field. His opp-field pop tied the game at 2-2, giving the Mets new life and helped push the game into extra innings.
But that life ended around the 13th inning. By the 18th, Miller Park had a new record for the most innings played.
There were stranded runners at second by the Brewers, dropped balls by the Mets, chances squandered and benches emptied. It was ugly, sloppy and well, just long.
Finally, the game ended in the 18th with Ryan Braun's single off Chris Flexen plating two to help the Brewers walk off with a 4-3 win.
In the top of the 18th, Adeiny Hechavarria took a two-out single off Taylor Williams and promptly swiped second. Jeff McNeil then found a gap on the left side, sending Hechavarria home. McNeil was out trying to advance on the throw but the run had crossed and the damage was done.
But Chris Flexen (0-2) walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the frame. Ryan Braun found a hole on the right side, lacing a single past a diving Pete Alonso at first base. Two runs scored easily.
Taylor Williams recorded the win.
Noted Mets-killer Gio Gonzalez killed the Mets once again, limiting them to a single earned run on three hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked none, lowering his career ERA against New York to 2.83.
Zack Wheeler was effective in limiting the Brewers over a solid seven innings. The right-hander known for his high walk rate issued just one free pass, using an aggressive approach to attack the zone and strike out 10.
Wheeler was exceptionally sharp through the first two innings and made good pitches in the third but the Brewers' good hitters hit a few of those good pitches and took a 2-1 lead.
An errant pickoff throw to first with none out put Gamel in position to score on Lorenzo Cain's two-out single.
Eric Thames then walked to keep the inning alive and Mike Moustakas hit a tough pitch _ a low sinker _ for a line-drive double to right scoring Cain.
Rosario's first error of the night put the leadoff man on in the sixth but a double play erased him. A collision between Rosario and J.D. Davis at third resulted in a single for Ryan Braun but Wheeler finished the inning by getting Ben Gamel on a called strike three.
The Mets have made a National League-leading 29 errors this season with Rosario contributing nine of them.
