Alonso thumps clutch 3-run homer in 9th to send Mets past Brewers into NL Division Series

Pete Alonso hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off closer Devin Williams in the ninth inning and the New York Mets beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on Thursday night to win their NL Wild Card Series.

With their latest thrilling comeback in the decisive Game 3 against Milwaukee, the Mets advanced in the playoffs for the first time since winning the 2015 National League pennant. They move on to a best-of-five Division Series beginning Saturday in Philadelphia against the NL East champion Phillies.

It will be the first postseason meeting between the heated rivals.

New York went 6-7 against the Phillies during the regular season and finished six games behind them in the division standings.

The Brewers, making their sixth playoff appearance in the last seven years, still haven't won a postseason series since reaching Game 7 of the NL Championship Series in 2018.

The great <a href="https://twitter.com/HowieRose?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HowieRose</a> calls Pete Alonso’s ninth inning home run that sent the Mets to the NLDS against the Phillies and eliminated the Brewers: <a href="https://t.co/nJLSHATGsJ">pic.twitter.com/nJLSHATGsJ</a>

This series loss will be particularly painful.

Milwaukee appeared to have the victory in hand after Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick broke a scoreless tie by opening the seventh inning with back-to-back homers off Jose Butto. Tobias Myers and three relievers had combined on a two-hit shutout through the first eight innings.

Twelve straight Mets had been retired when they opened the ninth against Williams, a two-time NL reliever of the year who had earned the save Wednesday in Milwaukee's Game 2 victory.

But he wasn't his normal self on this night.

Francisco Lindor opened the ninth by walking on a full count.