Baseball's Wild-Card Game: A Thrilling Night on ESPN

A baseball game that has it all: intense pitching battles, back-to-back home runs, and an edge-of-your-seat finish. That was exactly what viewers witnessed when the New York Mets took on the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the wild-card round. ESPN saw record-breaking ratings with this epic matchup, drawing an average of over 4 million viewers and peaking at nearly 6 million around 9:45 p. m. The game was part of a wild-card series that saw a substantial increase in viewership compared to the previous year. In fact, it became the most-watched series ever on ESPN's platforms. A significant reason for this popularity was the Mets’ incredible comeback, which included a crucial three-run homer by Pete Alonso. Even after the game ended, excitement continued as Jesse Winker scored on a hit by Starling Marte, and David Peterson managed to secure the win despite allowing an initial single. The Mets' journey has been nothing short of remarkable. They started their turnaround in June when they were close to being eliminated from contention. Their victory over the Brewers marked their second celebration with champagne in just five days, following a win in Game 2 of their Monday doubleheader. This team’s resilience and performance have made them a favorite among fans.