Mets' five-run fifth inning pr...

The Mets continued the comeback theme from Monday, twice overcoming early leads on Tuesday night to defeat the Brewers 8-4 in Milwaukee, taking a 1-0 lead in this best-of-three Wild Card series.

Here are the takeaways...

-Clutch hitting won the day for the Mets, as they scored five runs, all with two outs in the fifth inning, collecting five of their eight hits in that inning. Mark Vientos and J.D. Martinez each had two-run singles after the Mets had tied the game 4-4.

For the game, the Mets went 5-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

-The overall numbers weren’t great for Luis Severino but after looking like he was heading for an early exit, the right-hander dug deep to get through six innings, shutting down the Brewers in the fifth and sixth after the Mets had rallied for five runs to take an 8-4 lead.

In the first four innings, Severino gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks, and his pitch count was rising quickly. But after the Mets’ big rally, he got six straight outs to enable him to get through six and change the complexion of his start.

Severino came into this start with a 5.15 postseason ERA in 11 appearances, including 10 starts, during his years with the Yankees.

-The bullpen dominated the final three innings, as Jose Butto threw two perfect innings, with three strikeouts, and Ryne Stanek added another in a 1-2-3 ninth.

Though it wasn’t a save situation, Edwin Diaz likely would have pitched the ninth, but after throwing 66 pitches combined on Sunday and Monday.

Between Severino and the relievers, Mets’ pitchers retired 17 straight batters to finish the game.

-Of all the key hits in their five-run rally in the fifth inning, none was bigger -- or scrappier -- than Jose Iglesias’ infield single that allowed Tyrone Taylor to score from second with the tying run at 4-4.

Iglesias hit the ball hard on the ground the opposite way and when it handcuffed Rhys Hoskins briefly, Iglesias beat the throw to the pitcher, Joel Payamps, with a head-first dive, as Taylor caught Payamps off-guard by never hesitating and coming around third to score.

It was one more clutch moment in a season full of them for Iglesias. He hit .375 with runners in scoring position and, even more remarkably, .440 with two outs and runners in scoring position. Add in Tuesday’s two-out hit and he’s hitting .462 (12-for-26) in those two-out situations.

-The Brewers had the second-best bullpen ERA in the majors during the regular season, but Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy seemed a little overanxious to utilize it, pulling his top starter, Freddy Peralta, after four innings, and wound up paying for it.

Peralta had settled down with two scoreless innings after giving up three runs in the second, and had thrown only 68 pitches.

In any case, the Mets jumped on the Brewers’ pen, scoring five runs in the fifth inning against righthander Payamps and lefty Aaron Ashby.

With two outs and two runners on, and the score tied, Murphy went to the lefty, Ashby, to pitch to Brandon Nimmo to get out of the inning. But when Nimmo reached on an infield single, that set up two good matchups for the Mets with right-handed hitters.

First, Vientos lined a single to left, driving in two runs to put the Mets ahead 6-4. Then after Pete Alonso was walked intentionally, Carlos Mendoza pinch-hit Martinez for Jesse Winker, and Martinez singled to right field to make it 8-4.

-A slumping Winker hadn’t been playing much lately but his history of success against Peralta got him into the lineup as the DH and he quickly cashed in the opportunity, tripling into the right-field corner in the second inning, driving in two runs to tie the game 2-2.

That broke an 0-for-15 slump for Winker, who had gone without a hit since Sept. 13.

Coming into the game Winker was 6-for-18 with two home runs against Peralta in his career.

Game MVP: Jose Iglesias

Why not? There wasn’t an obvious choice, but Iglesias’ hustle in beating out an infield hit with two outs in the fifth inning not only allowed Taylor to score the tying run from second but kept the inning going for Vientos and Martinez to drive in four more runs.

What's next

The Mets and Brewers will meet again Wednesday for Game 2 of the Wild Card round. First pitch is scheduled for 7:38 p.m.

Sean Manaea (12-6, 3.47 ERA) will look to bounce back and send the Mets to the NLDS when he takes the mound. The Brewers are starting Frankie Montas (7-11, 4.84 ERA) as they are one loss away from elimination.