Mets’ victory over Brewers in NL Wild Card Series decider was ESPN’s most-watched game in 3 years

By The Associated Press

New York Mets' Pete Alonso reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the ninth inning of Game 3 of a National League wild card baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Morry Gash]

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — The New York Mets’ 4-2 comeback victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night in the deciding game of the NL Wild Card Series averaged 4,017,000 viewers on ESPN and streaming, making it ESPN’s most-watched Major League Baseball game in three years.

ESPN and Nielsen reported Friday that the audience peaked at 5.75 million viewers during the ninth inning, when the Mets rallied from a 2-0 deficit to reach the divisional round for the first time since 2015, when they reached the World Series.

It was the biggest audience for a playoff game on ESPN since the 2021 AL wild-card game, when the Boston Red Sox’s win over the New York Yankees averaged 7.7 million.

This year’s nine MLB Wild Card Series games averaged 2.82 million on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, a 25% increase over last year and a 1% gain from 2022.

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