Coming into today’s doubleheader between the New York Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers, it was clear that Game 1 featured the far more sexy pitching matchup as the league’s two best strikeouts aces went head-to-head. Jacob deGrom entered the start leading MLB with his 14.4 K/9 and Corbin Burnes was in second at 13.2.

A matchup between two of this year’s NL All-Stars is just a bit better than the Brett Anderson vs. Robert Stock matchup we are heading towards in the night cap, but at least there is more Mets baseball coming your way!

One run can make all the difference in any great pitching battle. Especially when you are playing a seven-inning game. That is why it was so stunning to see the best pitcher in the world give up a leadoff homer to Brewers third baseman Luis Urias.

After allowing the home run, deGrom settled in and retired the next 12 batters he faced, striking out six. DeGrom seemed to get stronger as the start went on, reaching 101 MPH in a fourth inning where he struck out the side.

Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Trailing 1-0 before getting their first turn at-bat, the Mets wasted no time getting on the board and evening things up against Burnes. Brandon Nimmo continues to provide a spark atop the Mets lineup and did so again as he ripped a line drive to left-center field on the seventh pitch of his first at-bat.

The double gave the Mets an early runner in scoring position and Francisco Lindor cashed it in right away, flaring a hit over the infield that scored Nimmo and tied the game. Burnes then began to showcase his All-Star pedigree, striking out Dom Smith and Jeff McNeil, working around another single he allowed to Pete Alonso.

With one out in the second inning, Tomas Nido ripped a line drive to the opposite field for a single. Burnes then settled in and retired the next eight batters he faced, striking out four Mets in the process.

The tie was finally broken in the top of the fifth inning, when Jace Peterson got a hold of a slider out over the heart of the plate and hit a 426-foot home run. DeGrom struck out the next two batters to avoid further damage in the fifth. He later worked around a single in the following inning, inducing a double play that retired the side in order.

Clinging to his one-run lead, Burnes finally began to run into some trouble in the bottom of the sixth inning. After striking out Lindor and Smith at the start of the frame, Pete Alonso hit a double to spark a two-out rally.

Jeff McNeil reached base next with an infield single, which forced Burnes out of the game as Brewers manager Craig Counsell opted to have relief ace Devin Williams get the final out of the inning. Williams hit Michael Conforto with a pitch that loaded the bases, but ultimately got Luis Guillorme to ground out to end the inning.

Sitting at just 69 pitches after six innings, deGrom completed the game for the Mets in the seventh, working around another single to hold the Brewers to just two runs through seven innings. DeGrom finished the day with 1o strikeouts, no walks and just four hits allowed, but the two solo home runs made all of the difference.

Brewers closer Josh Hader entered the game in the bottom of the seventh, looking to convert his 21st save of the season. The hard-throwing left-hander had been perfect in his first 20 save opportunities this season.

The bench mob was asked to do the impossible and scratch a run against Hader, who has dominated the Mets in the past. Kevin Pillar pinch-hit first and was set down on strikes. Then it was Jose Peraza‘s turn to pinch-hit and he shocked the Brewers All-Star, tagging Hader for his first home run allowed of the season.

After Nimmo was set down on a questionable strike three call, Lindor flew out to left field, sending the game into extra innings.

Edwin Diaz came into the game for the eighth inning to try to work around the free runner on second and keep the Brewers off the board. Unfortunately he was unable to do so, as a lack of control hurt Diaz again in a non-save situation.

The Mets closer retired the first two batters he faced, but then issued two walks to load the bases. Diaz then hit Christian Yelich with the first pitch, bringing in the free runner for the Brewers. The unearned run is all Diaz would allow, as he struck out Willy Adames to strand three runners.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Mets once again showed their resilience, putting together a game-winning rally.

Left-hander Brent Suter replaced Hader for the Brewers and he dealt with control issues of his own. Suter hit Smith on the wrist with a pitch, then James McCann drew a walk in a nine-pitch at-bat. With the bases loaded, McNeil came up to the plate and produced the first walk-off hit of his career, a single that scored two.

It was the seventh time this season that the Mets have won via walk-off and their 11th victory in 17 chances when playing doubleheaders. Now having won another series, the Mets will look to complete a sweep of the first place Brewers in the night cap.