If ever there were a time for the Milwaukee Brewers to live up to their postseason mantra of "Undaunted," now is the time.

Done in by a nightmarish fifth inning that saw the New York Mets cross the plate five times thanks in large part to a couple of key defensive gaffes, the Brewers stand just one game away from elimination after dropping Game 1 of their National League wild-card matchup, 8-4, at American Family Field on Tuesday night.

A crowd of 40,022 rode the rollercoaster of emotions as Milwaukee took a two-run lead in the first inning, fell behind and rallied back to take the lead again in the fourth before the wheels completely fell off in the fifth.

Game 1 box score: Mets 8, Brewers 4

It was the sixth consecutive postseason loss for the Brewers dating to 2021.

There were some solid individual performances, with starter Freddy Peralta bouncing back from a tough second to retire the final nine batters he faced before being pulled, Brice Turang collecting three hits – including doubles in each of his first two at-bats – and scoring two runs and Jackson Chourio singling twice in his first playoff game.

But it wasn't nearly enough and now Milwaukee will need to buck the odds: Teams winning Game 1 of the wild-card series have gone on to take the series in 14 of 16 instances.

Game 2 is scheduled for 6:38 p.m. Wednesday.

Freddy Peralta fails to carry the momentum over

Things were looking great early for Peralta, who struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 first and then got a couple of runs of support in the bottom of the frame.

But the prosperity didn't last long, as the Mets responded with a single, walk, a two-run triple by ex-Brewer Jesse Winker and then a sacrifice fly to take the lead. Things were dire enough at that point that Milwaukee's bullpen quickly became active.

It was a sequence that was somewhat reminiscent of the way Peralta faltered at the end of the fourth and start of the fifth in his Game 2 start against the Arizona Diamondbacks in last year's wild-card series.

Peralta did regain control by finishing up the second and ultimately got through four innings before making way for Joel Payamps.

Willy Adames, Jesse Winker exchange words

Winker, whose one-year tenure in Milwaukee in 2023 did not go well, was booed lustily by Brewers fans as he made his way to the plate for his first at-bat in the second.

He battled Peralta for eight pitches, ultimately sending a changeup down but out over the plate into the corner in right to score a pair and tie the game.

A big moment for Winker, no doubt, and he celebrated it lustily by yelling and gesturing toward the New York dugout. Apparently either something Winker said, or just the optics of Winker's gesticulations, rubbed Willy Adames the wrong way and the Milwaukee shortstop made his feelings known.

The moment ended there, but it was an interesting look at two former teammates now going at it in the heat of battle.

Quite a sequence for Jackson Chourio

You had a feeling it wouldn't take long for the Brewers' prized rookie to make his presence felt.

He singled in his first at-bat in the first inning and scored a run, and then singled again with two on in the fourth to draw the Brewers even at 3-3. In doing so, he became the youngest player at 20 years, 204 days to record multiple hits in his postseason debut.

Chourio then made what appeared to be a home-run-saving catch when he leaped up and reeled in a drive to the wall in left by Starling Marte to open the fifth.

The play prompted Payamps to pound his fist on his chest, and drew a huge ovation from the crowd.

But one batter later the ball again found Chourio and this time he wasn't so fortunate, as he misread Tyrone Taylor's liner. It landed over his head for a double, kick-starting what would be a game-turning, five-run rally.

Nightmare fifth for Aaron Ashby

Aaron Ashby deserves all the credit in the world for coming all the way back from the left shoulder surgery he underwent early in 2023 and making the postseason roster.

But Tuesday will be a day he'll want to quickly erase from the memory banks, as he faced five batters in the decisive fifth behind Payamps and didn't retire one.

Ashby entered with runners on first and second and two outs and the score tied at 4-4 and was greeted by an opposite-field single by Brandon Nimmo that loaded the bases.

Mark Vientos, up next, singled to right to drive in a pair. The Brewers elected to put the dangerous Pete Alonso on to again load the bases, and JD Martinez came off the bench to bounce a two-run single to right.

Marte, the man who opened the inning at the plate, followed by walking and that was it for Ashby as Nick Mears finished up the inning.

Joel Payamps deserves some blame

The misplay by Chourio opened the door to the big inning.

But if Payamps does one basic thing that's drilled into pitchers' heads from the opening day of spring training – cover first base – the Mets might not have dented the scoreboard at all.

Taylor was on second and Francisco Lindor on first when José Iglesias hit a sharp grounder to first that Rhys Hoskins left his feet to smother.

But Payamps didn't immediately break for first, with his slight hesitation making all the difference as Iglesias slid head-first into the base safely, with Taylor never slowing down as he scored from second.

Considering how the Brewers' defense this year has been such a strength, it was jarring to see a couple of miscues turn the tide so quickly.

(This story was updated to change or add a photo or video.)

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Miscues by Brewers' Jackson Chourio, Joel Payamps in fifth cost Brewers