Pete Alonso makes Marlins pay for Juan Soto decision as Mets break away for sixth straight win
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.The theory behind lineup protection suggests Pete Alonso’s looming presence behind Juan Soto should help Soto see more strikes, opposing pitchers striving to avoid facing Alonso with a runner on base.A related hypothesis: When Soto is walked, perhaps Alonso is helped by the appearance of disrespect.Alonso certainly seemed to take it personally when the Marlins intentionally walked Soto to load the bases in Tuesday’s sixth inning.
Two pitches later, Alonso drilled a three-run double that fired up the club’s dugout on a frigid day and provided all the insurance the Mets would need in a 10-5 win in front of an announced attendance (and certainly not an actual attendance at a mostly empty Citi Field) of 28,861 teeth-chattering fans.Mets fans can be forgiven for staying away from a game whose start time was shifted into the afternoon to avoid the deepest chills — and it still officially began at 42 degrees and windy.But the Mets’ previously quiet lineup gave the intimate gathering something to cheer, most notably a sixth straight victory.Francisco Lindor led off with a homer into the upper deck in right field.
Clay Holmes did not quite stitch together the kind of complete, efficient game he has sought, but he was often untouchable and showed off his best stuff in three starts.But the loudest moment arrived when the Marlins refused to pitch to the Mets’ $765 million superstar.Having gotten to Holmes and attempted fireman Huascar Brazobán for three runs in the top of the sixth inning to narrow the Mets lead to 6-5, the Marlins needed to escape the bottom of the inning.
Brett Baty reached on an infield single.Hayden Senger’s sacrifice bunt accidentally became a single when the Marlins showed hesitation in who should field it.
And after a Lindor flyout, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough brought in righty Ronny Henriquez...