Milwaukee Brewers fail to capitalize on Mets’ Error, fall to New York in 12 innings 5-4

WP: Josh Smoker (1-2) LP: Wily Peralta (5-4) Save: none Homeruns: Lucas Duda (8)

Box Score

The New York Mets recovered from a huge two run error to outlast the Milwaukee Brewers in twelve innings at Citi Field, 5-4. Asdrubal Cabrera dropped a very routine infield pop-up with the bases loaded and two out in the seventh inning, allowing two runs to score and tie the game at four. The Brewers couldn’t take advantage of the gaff, though, going scoreless the rest of the way against the Mets’ bullpen.

Milwaukee started the game by scoring their major league leading 49th run in the top of the first. Mets’ starter Tyler Pill hit Keon Broxton with his second pitch of the game and Eric Thames singled him to second. Hernan Perez bounced into a twin killing with Broxton advancing to third, and Travis Shaw blooped one just over the glove of Met’s firstbaseman Lucas Duda for an RBI double.

After that, the Brewers went 0-7 with runners in scoring position from the second through the fifth, as Pill allowed seven more baserunners but the Brewers couldn’t push anything more across. Thames tripled leading off the top of the fifth, but Milwaukee hitters produced a foul-out to third from Perez, a strikeout looking from Shaw, and a groundout from Domingo Santana. Pill left with one on and one out in the top of the sixth, pitching just well enough to earn a win in his first major league start.

New York had little luck against Davies for four innings, but back-to-back doubles leading off the bottom of the fifth from Curtis Granderson and Asdrubal Cabrera tied the game at one. A single and a walk loaded the bases, and Davies thought he had Jose Reyes struck out on a low fastball on a 2-2 count before missing in the dirt on the 3-2 pitch to give the Mets the lead.

Carlos Torres had an ineffective sixth for Milwaukee. Neil Walker hit one a mile but foul, and then doubled to left. Duda homered to left on a fastball on the corner, and the Mets were up 4-1. Torres gave up two more singles in the inning, including reliever Fernando Salas’ first career hit in four at bats. Salas was almost thrown out at first by Domingo Santana, but his throw low and skipped past Thames. Fortunately it went directly to Jett Bandy at home, keeping the runners at first and second. Flores got a fielder’s choice from Michael Comforto to end the inning.

Salas was tired by his hit (well, actually he hasn’t been very good out of the pen for the Mets, allowing 15 earned runs in his last 15 innings) and he walked Eric Sogard and Thames around a strikeout by Broxton, then gave up a single Perez. Salas left for lefty Jerry Blevens to face Shaw, and Shaw struck out on three straight benders.

That set up a two out bases loaded situation for Santana, and while Domingo couldn’t match his Sunday grand slam, he did draw a walk to force in the Brewers’ second run. Then came Cabrera’s amazing error, giving the Brewers two unearned runs and tying the game up at four. Jesus Aguilar pinch hit for Torres and fanned to end the inning. Milwaukee produced three runs on one hit, three walks, and a Mets’ error.

The Brewers were unable to score in the eighth and ninth despite a two out walk to Broxton in the eighth and a one out single by Shaw in the ninth. For the Brewers, Neftali Feliz and Jacob Barnes worked perfect seventh and eighths, and Barnes came out for the bottom of the ninth.

Jacob retired the first two hitters, but Comforto singled to left. Brewer manager Craig Counsell went with closer Corey Knebel to face Reyes, and Reyes fouled out to send the teams to extra innings.

Orlando Arcia lined a one-out single in the top of the tenth, his third hit of the game (Orlando’s hitting streak moved to ten games). Sogard drew his second walk of the night in three trips, and the Brewers were in business against Josh Smoker. Smoker came into the game having allowed 12 earned runs in his last 5.2 innings, and was in trouble again.

The Brewers were again victimized by poor umpiring. A 3-2 pitch to Broxton was in off the plate, but was called strike three. This series has been a ringing endorsement for Robot Umps. Thames struck out swinging to end the inning.

Knebel came back for the bottom of the tenth, and absolutely dominated the Mets 3-4-5 hitters. He had pinpoint control on his curveball, and his fastball consitently hit 98. Jay Bruce and Neil Walker struck out swinging and Lucas Duda fanned looking. The three lefties never had a chance against the right handed Knebel.

The Brewers failed to score in the eleventh and twelfth, and the Mets finally finished the Brewers off with a walk-off win in the bottom of the twelfth off of Wily Peralta. A single, walk, and fielder’s choice left runners on first and third with one out, and Bruce got his first hit in six at bats to drive in the winning run.

Smoker worked three innings, allowing two hits and a walk, to earn the win.

Tomorrow night’s game will be broadcast on FSWisconsin, beginning at 6:10 pm. Milwaukee (27-25) will send Junior Guerra (0-0, 3.12) out to face Jacob deGrom (4-1, 3.23) for New York (23-27). The Brewers will still hold first place in the NL Central, 1.5 games ahead of the Cardinals and either .5 or 1.5 games ahead of the Cubs (who are trailing 6-2 in the sixth in San Diego.