MILWAUKEE — Nothing was going right for the Mets at the start of Friday’s game, including the fact that Carlos Mendoza would not be around for the finish.
The Mets manager was tossed after three and a half innings at American Family Field for arguing balls and strikes after Francisco Alvarez was punched out with two men on base.
Alvarez was fighting in a lengthy battle with Brewers righty Frankie Montas and had fouled off four straight full-count pitches.
Pitch 10 of the at-bat appeared a bit below the zone, and Alvarez laid off and took a few steps toward first.
But home-plate umpire Ramon De Jesus ruled strike three, ending the frame and ending what would have been a bases-loaded opportunity for Tyrone Taylor.
Mendoza, who surely saw that the first strike of the at-bat also appeared off the plate, barked from the dugout and was ejected for a second time this season.
He then ran out to the field and shouted at De Jesus for a few moments before leaving in what had been a dreadful game for the Mets, who were trailing 5-2 at the time.
In a crucial game during the wild-card chase, Sean Manaea allowed a first-inning grand slam to Mets-killer Rhys Hoskins.
Also dispiriting was a throwing error from Francisco Lindor, who was trying to will his ailing back through a game after missing eight straight contests.