The Mets were celebrating in Milwaukee on Thursday night — and had a little extra luck on their side.
After pulling off an epic comeback, the Mets went wild in the clubhouse, spraying champagne everywhere as they secured a spot in the NLDS with a thrilling 4-2 victory over the Brewers.
Pete Alonso, the Game 3 hero who smashed a dramatic three-run homer to push the Mets ahead in the ninth, was right in the middle of it all, holding onto an unusual playoff charm: a pumpkin from Wisconsin. And that’s how the world got to know the playoff pumpkin.
In Pete Alonso’s own words, “Nothing’s more like fall than playoff baseball and pumpkins.” Simple as that. Alonso and his wife had gone pumpkin-picking just before the series began. Never mind the 900-mile trip from home — a new MLB good-luck tradition was born.
Now, the internet is obsessed with Pete Alonso and his playoff pumpkin, a festive talisman that’s somehow helping the New York Mets win.
What’s even crazier? We’ve never seen anything like a playoff pumpkin before. Honestly, it’s just as reasonable as a lucky summer sausage.
Manager Carlos Mendoza, who just clinched his first playoff series as a big-league manager, added to the energy with an inspiring speech in the middle of the celebration. “We keep having fun, we keep smiling, this is us right here!” he said. “And we continue to believe — let’s go!” He then grabbed a bottle and joined the champagne-spraying frenzy.
Thursday night’s game between the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers had all eyes on it, as it was the last Wild Card Series game standing. The Mets and Brewers kept fans on the edge of their seats during this intense face-off, while the other series wrapped up with quick sweeps. The Kansas City Royals made a dramatic statement by eliminating the Baltimore Orioles after two games.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers secured their spot by beating the Houston Astros in back-to-back games. The San Diego Padres were the only National League team to advance at home, after defeating the Atlanta Braves. Now, the Tigers will face the Cleveland Guardians in the American League, while the Royals are gearing up to battle the New York Yankees. Both matchups promise to be exciting clashes!
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Image Credit: © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
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