MILWAUKEE — In a season where the Mets lost countless left-handed options, they found one when they needed it most.
Brooks Lally is injured.
Jake Diekman is gone.
Alex Young is optioned, and Danny Young can sometimes lose control and sink into the bullpen hierarchy.
On Thursday night, Carlos Mendoza gave up the final three outs to David Peterson in a surreal, heart-wrenching 4-2 victory over the Brewers at American Family Field, sending the Mets out of the NLDS. Sent to Philadelphia.
Peterson most recently pitched in the same game against the Brewers on Sunday, helping the Mets win their 160th game of the season, giving them just one win in Monday's doubleheader in Atlanta.
The left-hander knew he had to prepare for the final inning, when Jose Butt allowed the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and Edwin Diaz needed 39 pitches to get five outs in the seventh and eighth innings. I watched it happen.
Pete Alonso hit a three-run home run against star closer Devin Williams in the top of the ninth, ensuring that the left-handed pitcher would be the Mets' best option in the bottom of the ninth.
“Everyone went crazy,” Peterson said. [bullpen coach Jose Rosado] So we looked at each other and were like, “Okay, we've got to rewind.”
“I just go out there and do what I have to do.”
All Peterson, who pitched out of the bullpen 16 times in five major league seasons, had to do was record his first career save.
Given a two-run lead, Peterson watched as Sal Frelick singled to open the frame.
“I tried to slow down and get my heart rate as low as possible,” the southpaw said. This player was selected because the Brewers had two left-handed pitchers at bat. “I knew the crowd, the energy of the game and the situation would give me everything I needed.”
He struck out Joey Ortiz with a four-seam fastball, then Bryce Turan, whom the Mets couldn't retire all series, bounced a grounder and Francisco Lindor ran up to second base and threw to first base to finish it off. .
“Diaz did a great job and then Peterson got the last three outs,” Mendoza said.
