MILWAUKEE — David Peterson largely ignored the personal importance and pointed to the bigger picture of the game itself.
“We needed it,” the left-hander said of the 5-0 win over the Brewers at American Family Field.
His manager pointed to his starting pitcher.
“We needed that,” Carlos Mendoza said of Peterson's incredible seven-inning, scoreless pitch.
In the biggest start of his career, Peterson was told just the day before that he would get the ball and had a well-deserved performance.
The fifth-year left-hander stopped the Mets' three-game slump, halted the funk that came with it through the rotation, and gave a club much-needed hope.
The Mets are in a much better position as Peterson saved the game while saving most of the bullpen.
The Mets were guaranteed to travel to Atlanta on Monday regardless of the outcome of the game, as the Diamondbacks had already won on Sunday, but a win led by Peterson would require a season-ending doubleheader to advance to the postseason. This means that you only need to win one game.
With 18 innings left, Mendoza was going to squeeze everything out of Peterson.
After 21 outs, both players were satisfied.
Peterson shut out the Brewers with just one hit and three walks.
In Game 162 against Milwaukee, which featured William Contreras and Reece Hoskins, he had eight strikeouts.
“He took strike one. He kept attacking,” Mendoza said of Peterson. Peterson started 21 games and finished the regular season with a stellar ERA of 2.90. “He was aggressive. He had good tempo. He was in complete control of the game in everything.”
With one out in the first inning, Jackson Chourio made a successful swinging bunt, and the Brewers were unable to record another hit until Peterson left the game.
In the first inning, Chourio reached scoring position but couldn't advance beyond third base, and Peterson escaped by inducing a fielder's choice by Jake Bowers and striking out Eric Haas.
The Brewers were unable to reach second base again against Peterson, who retired the last seven batters he saw and 19 of his last 21.
The 29-year-old was pulled after throwing 95 pitches in seven efficient frames, helping to keep only Phil Mayton and Edwin Diaz from the Mets' bullpen, which must prepare for Monday's marathon. The battle for rotation.
Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana combined to give up 12 runs (11 earned) in 12 innings during a three-game upset that threatened to end the Mets' playoff hopes.
Severino was beaten by Quintana in Atlanta, Manaea, and Milwaukee, and was not the Mets' biggest strength in the second half.
But Peterson has been much better since debuting in late May after offseason hip surgery, pitching one of his best games in his biggest game.
“I'm just trying to run as long as I can no matter what,” Peterson said. “I'm just trying to give everything I have to the team.”
