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MILWAUKEE At a point when it felt like it , Francisco Alvarez slid into third base and could not get up. Alvarez exited with back spasms in the top of the seventh of an at American Family Field on Friday. On a night Francisco Lindor made his return from back discomfort, Alvarezs back became a concern for a Mets club that could ill afford to lose the slugger in the last weekend of the season during a playoff chase. After a base-running incident in which Alvarez said he felt scared, he stretched, got ma saged and reported improvement. I feel way better, said Alvarez, who had never experienced back spasms before. Lets see [Saturday] how its going to feel. Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez tweaked his bat late in Friday nights lo s to the Brewers. Jason Szenes / New York Post The Mets catcher reached first base on a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and dashed for third as Tyrone Taylor grounded out. Explore More Alvarez said he felt his back tighten up just before sliding into the base feet first. He grabbed at his lower back, yelled and signaled to the dugout while grimacing. Alvarez lay flat on his chest for about a minute and rose, with help, Jake Cave Jersey before needing a sistance both to get off the field and get down the dugout steps. When he first came out, it didnt look good, said manager Carlos Mendoza, who added the club has catchers at camp in Port St. Lucie who could be added if needed. For the past 30 minutes or so, hes walking around, feeling definitely better. It was a rough development in a rough game in which the Mets Alvarez included did little right as they hunt for a wild-card spot. Francisco Alvarez gets his back checked on after hurting himself on Friday night. Jason Szenes / New York Post Luis Torrens pinch-ran (and was stranded) before remaining in the game at catcher. If Alvarez has to mi s time a troubling notion with a maximum of four games left in the regular season the light-hitting Torrens would be thrust into an everyday role. Alvarezs bat has come alive in the past two weeks, having launched five of his 11 home runs this season in the past 12 games, a stretch in which he has raised his OPS from .664 to .706. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! He reached base in two of his three plate appearances Friday and should have reached a third time. Alvarez fought through a lengthy battle with Frankie Montas in the fourth inning with two outs and two men on base. After fouling off four straight full-count offerings, Alvarez stared at a breaking ball that appeared to be below the zone. Carlos Mendoza got ejected on Friday night in a critical Mets game. Jason Szenes / New York Post Home-plate umpire Ramon De Jesus ruled strike three, ending the frame, ending what would have been a bases-loaded opportunity for Tyrone Taylor and ending the night for Mendoza, who was ejected for a second time this year. He didnt have a good game behind the plate, Mendoza said of De Jesus, although he probably could have said the same about Alvarez. The Mets were outplayed and outrun by the NL Central champion Brewers, who entered play second in the majors in stolen bases and were as aggre sive as advertised. Francisco Alvarez exited the Mets game early. Jason Szenes / New York Post The Brewers stole six bases five off Alvarez and one off Torrens including three by Brice Turang. Three additional times, they advanced bases on a pair of wild pitches (by Sean Manaea and Danny Young) and a pa sed ball by Alvarez, which was his MLB-leading 10th of the season. We gotta quicken our time to the plate, said Mendoza, placing the blame on the Mets staff. Thats what they do as a team, and we knew that coming in. We have to make some adjustments and stop them from continuing to run like that. Torrens has been better at holding runners on base this season, though Alvarezs bat is stronger. They took good jumps, Alvarez said. Its tough when the runners can take good jumps. Yonathan Daza Jersey