Pete Alonso extends his recent Mets tear with another home run in win over Phillies
It is possible Thursday represented the fourth-to-last game Pete Alonso plays in Citi Field as a Met.He is swinging like there will be more this season — and swinging in a way that reminds of how valuable he can be.In the middle of September during a playoff chase and with the club’s MVP in Francisco Lindor out of the lineup, the Mets slugger has come alive.Alonso smacked a first-inning homer to right-center field, his third in his past seven games, in the 10-6, series-opening win over the Phillies at Citi Field on Thursday.Is this the hot streak the Mets have waited for? At his best, Alonso has the capability of throwing the entire team on his back.
Alonso was not at his best through most of the first five months of the season, still hitting enough to crack the All-Star Game but having a comparatively down season.Through Sept.11, he owned a .787 OPS that would be the worst season of his career.
But that OPS has risen to .807 in his past seven games, Alonso on a 11-for-28 (.393) tear with three dingers, a double and seven RBIs.“I’m just happy I’m capitalizing on pitches in the zone,” Alonso said after going back-to-back with Mark Vientos.“I just want to be able to continue to stay dangerous and just make quality contact and have good at-bats.”A good sign of good at-bats, according to Alonso and his manager, is when his barrel sprays pitches around the yard.Four pitches after Vientos went deep, Alonso saw an outside fastball from Taijuan Walker and went with it, launching the towering drive over the wall in right-center.“When he’s using the whole field,” Carlos Mendoza said, “he’s pretty dangerous.”Alonso, who finished 1-for-4 with a walk, pumped his fist between first and second base.
After crossing home plate he yelled to the crowd, trying to spring the few in their seats to their feet.Like Brandon Nimmo did a night earlier, Alonso called for Mets fans to show up for not-quite-October games that feel like October.“This is what it’...