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Wright swings away, gives Mets 5-4 comeback win over Brewers

May 22, 2016 - 1:34 AM NEW YORK (AP) David Wright knew there was only one way to ensure he had the green light on 3-0: Don't look down for a sign.

''I learned a long time ago it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission,'' he said with a wry smile.

Wright made up his own mind and singled home the winning run on a 3-0 pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday, completing the New York Mets' comeback in a 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

With the crowd of 39,688 standing and chanting ''Let's go Mets!'' in a steady drizzle that was getting heavier, Wright took three balls from Michael Blazek and then surprisingly swung away. New York's slumping captain sent a line drive to right-center and was swarmed by happy teammates at first base.

''I don't think it's relief, it's excitement,'' Wright said. ''To see the way the guys reacted, the coaches reacted, obviously made me feel good because I've been struggling. It seems like those situations find you when you're not feeling your best at the plate.

''Every at-bat is kind of a new chapter,'' he added. ''These guys have picked me up so much this year that it was nice to return the favor.''

Mets manager Terry Collins said he was going to give Wright the option to swing - if he'd even glanced at third base coach Tim Teufel. But when Wright avoided eye contact, Collins knew what was coming.

Wright said he was confident he would get a fastball and didn't want to take one right down the middle because Blazek had relied on some tricky off-speed stuff earlier in the inning.

''That might be the best pitch to hit in that at-bat,'' Wright said. ''By 3-0, you've seen all of his pitches.''

Curtis Granderson hit a leadoff homer for the Mets, and Yoenis Cespedes' two-run shot tied the score in the sixth.

Ramon Flores hit his first major league homer and knocked in three runs for Milwaukee, but rookie starter Zach Davies was unable to hold a three-run lead. Leadoff man Jonathan Villar had three hits, including an RBI single.

''We've been in a lot of close games,'' Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.

Villar doubled off the top of the left-center fence with one out in the ninth and held at second when Wright made a diving stop of Cespedes' wayward throw to third. Villar was then thrown out trying for third on Scooter Gennett's sharp grounder to shortstop.

Eric Campbell, subbing at first base for injured Lucas Duda, opened the ninth with a single before Blazek (1-1) walked Kevin Plawecki. Rookie pinch-hitter Matt Reynolds fouled off two bunt tries before finally getting his sacrifice down, and Granderson was intentionally walked to bring up Wright.

''I think you take that personally, for sure,'' Wright said.

Jeurys Familia (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.

Cespedes' homer got Jacob deGrom off the hook after the right-hander left trailing 4-1. The 2014 NL Rookie of the Year, winless in four starts since winning his first three, struck out seven and walked three while throwing 100 pitches in five innings.

''I felt like my stuff was really good. I just had a hard time locating it,'' deGrom said. ''I feel we made some steps in the right direction.''

Cespedes was out in front on a 2-2 changeup but lofted it into the left-field corner for his 14th home run, which tied Colorado's Nolan Arenado for the major league lead.

''It was a good pitch, but he got it. Good hitters do that,'' Davies said.

Asdrubal Cabrera drove in Cespedes with a two-out single in the fourth to make it 4-2.

HIT RECORD

It was the first game-ending hit for Wright since July 5, 2012, against Philadelphia. He broke the franchise record with his ninth walk-off RBI, snapping a tie with Kevin McReynolds, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. ''That is cool,'' Wright said. ''One of the best feelings in baseball.''

YOU'RE OUTTA HERE

Mets hitting coach Kevin Long was ejected from the dugout by plate umpire Adrian Johnson after Wright was called out on strikes in the sixth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Brewers: LF Ryan Braun missed his fourth consecutive game with a stiff back. ... LHP Will Smith (sprained right knee) threw live batting practice at Citi Field and could be ready for a minor league rehab assignment soon.

Mets: Duda sat out again with a bad back that has Collins concerned. ... Reserve infielder Wilmer Flores (strained left hamstring) is supposed to begin a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday, Collins said. Flores is eligible to come off the disabled list Friday. ... Wright (spinal stenosis) returned to the lineup after a scheduled night off.

UP NEXT

Brewers: RHP Chase Anderson (2-5, 5.32 ERA) starts Sunday as Milwaukee attempts to prevent a three-game sweep. Anderson took a no-hit bid into the eighth Tuesday in a 4-2 win over the Chicago Cubs and came within one out of his first career complete game.

Mets: RHP Noah Syndergaard (4-2, 2.19) earned his first major league victory against Milwaukee in May 2015 at Citi Field. Syndergaard struck out 10 and walked none over seven innings Tuesday in a 2-0 win over Washington.