Pete Alonsos time for Mets heroism is now

MILWAUKEE — There is nothing quite like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, getting a glimpse of land when you are awash at sea, seeing the food at the table — near but still an arm’s length away.The Mets were so devilishly close to doing what had been done in the AL, where a pair of road underdogs — Detroit and Kansas City — had gone into Houston and Baltimore and swept two games and upset their way into the Division Series.That was earlier in the day on Wednesday.And here at night the Mets were out-Brewering the Brewers.

Milwaukee won the NL Central behind defense, baserunning and bullpen.And for nearly two games, the Mets were better in every one of those phases.The key element in that previous sentence: nearly.The Mets spent most of Game 2 leading.

It was 3-2 in the eighth.There was the light on the way to Philadelphia.

There was the glimpse of land to the Division Series.There was the food — to be washed down with a lot of champagne.But Carlos Mendoza turned away from Ryne Stanek after he had dominated an inning in Game 2 as much as he had in Game 1.

That was the seventh.And he turned to Phil Maton to try to hold the lead in the eighth.

Instead, Jackson Chourio, who had led off the first inning against Sean Manaea by becoming the youngest player at 20 years, 205 days old to homer in the postseason since Bryce Harper, at 19 in 2012, homered again, to lead off the eighth.It was tied.And if there were a sign of veering magic in this series, it was that Garrett Mitchell, put in as a pinch runner for DH Gary Sanchez two innings earlier, hit a winning two-run homer off Maton.

That made the final, 5-3.It means there will be a decisive Game 3 on Wednesday night.It means the Mets are going to need some heroes.It means Jose Quintana will have to, at minimum, keep the Mets in it early.

And that Starling Marte, who has played so well in the first two games, needs another.And, yeah, is there more brilliance on the end of the bat of Francisco Lindo...