One of the major turning points in Game 1 of the National League Wild-Card Round series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Mets involved reliever Joel Payamps.
With the Brewers ahead by a run in the fifth inning and with the Mets having two men on and two outs, Jose Iglesias hit a grounder that was collected by Rhys Hoskins. But Iglesias dove to first base, beating Payamps and allowing Tyrone Taylor to score the game-tying run.
After their 8-4 loss to the Mets, Payamps admitted that he simply was not able to do what was needed to record the out.
Via the Associated Press (h/t ESPN)
“That’s a routine play that I failed to execute,” Paympas said through a translator. “Things kind of spiraled from there.”
Payamps was replaced after that play, with Aaron Ashby taking over the spot on the mound. But Ashby struggled as well, surrendering two earned runs on three hits with two walks issued in the same inning, thus letting New York to go up by four runs by the end of the frame.
“They’re gritty hitters, man,” Ashby said about the Mets following the game.
“They’re two-strike, putting-the-ball-in-play and making things happen. … I’m coming in here that inning to strike guys out. I didn’t execute pitches the way I’m able to.”
The Milwaukee Brewers will have to forget the series opener and focus on Wednesday’s elimination game
The poor performances by Payamps and Ashby underscored how the Brewers’ decision to pull Freddy Peralta early innings backfired. In any case, the the Brewers are still alive in the series, as they look to avoid elimination this Wednesday.
Milwaukee will be giving the ball to Frankie Montas in Game 2, while the Mets will have Sean Manaea toening the rubber.
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