Max Scherzer exits amid perfect game bid, still wins 200th of career as New York Mets return to playoffs for first time since 2016

MILWAUKEE — For the New York Mets, a playoff spot was certainly worth celebrating. Even if they still have bigger goals on the table in the middle of a heated pennant race.

Max Scherzer was pulled from his 200th win with a perfect game intact, and the Mets clinched their first trip to the postseason in six years by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2 on Monday night.

Reinstated from the injured list before the game, Scherzer (10-4) struck out nine in six innings. The 38-year-old ace threw only 68 pitches, but that was as far as the NL East leaders let him go in his first start in 16 days.

Brewers star Christian Yelich doubled leading off the seventh against Tylor Megill, making his first major league relief appearance after 27 starts. Megill also came off the injured list earlier in the day.

Pete Alonso hit a three-run homer off reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes (10-8), and the Mets won their fifth straight to wrap up at least one of the three National League wild cards. They lead their division by one game over defending World Series champion Atlanta, which beat Washington 5-2 at home.

«This is what you play the game for,» said Scherzer (200-101), who joined Justin Verlander (243 wins) and Zack Greinke (223) as the only active pitchers with 200 career wins. «You play to get into the postseason. There's a lot of ways for it not to work out. For us to be able to find a way to get into the postseason, that's awesome. That's what we celebrate. That's what you play the game for.

»We have a lot of things in front of us. We understand that. But you got to celebrate the good times, too."

Mets players and coaches hugged and high-fived on the field after the final out, then enjoyed a boozy but subdued celebration in