Mets drop first game of important Brewers series

MILWAUKEE – The Mets still have everything on the line in the regular season and nothing for the Brewers, but you wouldn’t have known that until Friday’s game.

Perhaps the Mets’ biggest upset was an angry Carlos Mendoza barking at plate umpire Ramon De Jesus before and after the manager was ejected for protesting a so-called third strike on Francisco Alvarez in the fourth inning.

The Mets were flat-footed in every way for the second straight game, and that was even before Alvarez grabbed his lower back after sliding into third base in the seventh inning and had to leave.

The catcher, who was diagnosed with back spasms, needed help from his teammates to walk from the dugout to the clubhouse.

The Mets’ total disaster night ended with an 8-4 loss at American Family Field, leaving them tied for the NL’s second wild card with Atlanta.

Arizona, also in the running for a wild card, played a later game in San Diego after even starting the day with the Mets.

Francisco Lindor returned to the lineup after missing the last eight games with lower back tightness and reached base three times – he was 2-for-4 with a walk – but the shortstop appeared unsteady at times and committed a throwing error, which resulted in an unearned throw run.

The Brewers, seeded No. 3 for the postseason, jumped on Sean Manaea from the start and continued to add runs.

In his worst start in the second half, Manaea lasted just 3 2/3 innings, giving up six runs, one unearned, on seven hits and two walks with one strikeout.

The start was his shortest since August 10 in Seattle and the five earned runs allowed were his most since July 19 in Miami.