Brewers 2, Mets 3: '13 is an unlucky number

Win: Vic Black (3-0)
Loss: Brandon Kintzler (3-3)
Save: Frank Francisco (1)

HR: None

MVP: Marco Estrada (.334 WPA)
LVP: Brandon Kintzler (-.572 WPA)

Fangraphs Win Expectancy Graph
Boxscore

The Milwaukee Brewers 2013 season ended how it began: Disappointingly.

Marco Estrada finished off his season with a flourish, allowing just two hits over seven innings while striking out eight hitters. One of those hits was to Eric Young Jr., who led off the first inning with a single. Young then stole second base to break a tie with and steal a share of the stolen bases title from done-for-the-season Jean Segura. Now neither player can ever have a chance to win it again with Billy Hamilton running roughshod over the National League.

Young then stole third base to rub it in, and was brought home on a David Wright sacrifice fly to score the only run Estrada would allow. It's nice to see Estrada go into 2014 on a high note.

The Brewers took the lead in the fourth inning, when they hit five of their six hits. Jeff Bianchi, Jonathan Lucroy, and Carlos Gomez led off the inning with three straight singles, the last of which saw Bianchi thrown out at home plate trying to score. Yuniesky Betancourt then drew a walk (of course he did) to load the bases. A Sean Halton groundout and Logan Schafer single each brought in a run to give the Brewers a 2-1 lead. Scooter Gennett followed that up with another single, but Sean Halton was thrown out at the plate. Those baserunning mistakes may have cost the Brewers two more runs and, potentially, the game.

I say that, because little league baseball struck in the eighth. Juan Lagares reached on a fielding error by Jeff Bianchi to put a man on first. The next hitter, Juan Centeno, laid down a great bunt that Jonathan Lucroy fielded clean. Here's where things get weird. Sean Halton charged the ball on the bunt attempt and Scooter Gennett looked to have forgotten to cover first base. By the time Gennett realized where he was supposed to be, the umpire got in his way, Lucroy threw to first, and Gennett couldn't handle it. The ball went into right field, allowing Lagares to make it all the way home and tie the game. Later in the inning, an RBI groundout gave the Mets the lead.

The Brewers had one hit outside of the fourth inning. The Mets had three hits, with none of them being for extra bases, and no walks overall. Yet they still scored three runs. Weird game. Unfortunate season.

The Brewers currently would have the tenth pick in the MLB draft. If the Blue Jays lose (they are down one as of this writing), they will tie the Brewers record. I think, by MLB's tie-breaking procedures, the Blue Jays would then usurp the Brewers tenth pick and make the Brewers drop out of the top-ten, meaning they could lose their first round draft pick if they sign a free agent who turned down a qualifying offer. Now we get to worry about both that, and about Yuniesky Betancourt getting re-signed.

So long 2013, I wish I could say it's been a pleasure. 183 days--over six months--until the Brewers kick off the 2014 season against the Braves.