MILWAUKEE -- Mark Vientos and J.D. Martinez each had two-run singles to fuel a five-run fifth inning rally and pace the New York Mets to an 8-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday in Game 1 of a National League wild-card series.
The Mets, who did not secure a postseason berth until winning the first game of a make-up doubleheader against Atlanta on Monday, twice came from behind against the NL Central champion Brewers. New York, the No. 6 seed, can clinch the series Wednesday night.
The third-seeded Brewers, who took two of three from the Mets in their final regular-season series, are 1-9 in playoff games since losing Game 7 of the 2018 National League Championship Series to the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. Last season, Milwaukee was swept at home last season by Arizona in the wild-card series after winning the division. The Mets erupted for five runs in the fifth off the Brewers bullpen to go in front 8-4.
Tyrone Taylor doubled with one out off Joel Payamps (0-1), who relieved Freddy Peralta to start the inning. Francisco Lindor walked with two outs and Jose Iglesias beat out a dribbler to the right side for an RBI single to tie it 4-all. Aaron Ashby entered for Milwaukee and Brandon Nimmo singled to load the bases.
Vientos followed with a two-run single to make it 6-4. Pete Alonso was walked intentionally and Martinez delivered a two-run pinch-hit single. It marked the most runs in a playoff inning for the Mets since a six-run outburst in the 2006 NLCS against St.