Pete Alonso staring down Mets end as slump threatens playoff run

MILWAUKEE — A certain Polar Bear’s return from hibernation was high on the Mets wish list as they considered the task ahead of them Thursday night.Pete Alonso’s roar has been muted for weeks, and if the Mets were going to extend their season with a Game 3 victory over the Brewers in the NL Wild Card Series, it would help to have their slugging first baseman involved.Alonso entered play without a homer since Sept.19, when he went deep against the Phillies.

That blast was also the last extra-base hit for Alonso, who was 1-for-5 (.200) in the wild-card series as play began.He walked three times in the Game 1 Mets victory.“I feel like I am taking pretty decent at-bats and I feel really consistent,” Alonso said.

“I just need to keep swinging and good things will happen.”Alonso, who is headed to free agency after the World Series, was possibly playing his last game in a Mets uniform on Thursday.It’s a thought he says hadn’t entered his head until he was asked about it.“I really don’t want to think about that at all,” Alonso said.

“My whole focus is going deep into the playoffs.”Alonso won’t be hitting the market on the upswing: He produced a solid but unspectacular .240/.329/.459 slash line with 34 homers and 88 RBIs during the regular season.The home run total was the lowest of his career for a full season.Manager Carlos Mendoza, before Thursday’s game, was asked if he felt Alonso has put too much pressure on himself.“I don’t see that and I don’t feel that,” Mendoza said.

“He’s the same guy.Yeah, it’s been hard for him the whole year and it’s definitely been hard for him the last two or three weeks, but I like the way he is controlling the strike zone.“He is one swing away, but I don’t see him trying to do too much or panicking or putting too much pressure on himself, I don’t see that.

I see the same guy that is keeping it loose.”The Mets received late homers from Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor in overtakin...