Pete Alonso just blasted his 300th career home run, and yeah, it was against his old squad, the Mets, in a straight-up gut punch for them on Tuesday night. This wasn’t just some vanity stat, either. That game-tying ninth-inning shot sparked Baltimore’s extra-inning victory, 7-5, a win that keeps the Orioles absolutely alive in the American League wild-card hunt. Talk about a statement game from a player making his first visit to Citi Field as a foe.
Dude, What a Moment for the Polar Bear
Seriously, you couldn’t write this drama better. Alonso had played his entire professional career with the Mets until this season, so returning to Queens, it was always gonna be a story. Monday’s opener was a quiet 0 for 3 with a walk in Baltimore’s 2-1 win. But Tuesday? That was the memorable one. Picture this: ninth inning, Orioles trailing 1-0, bases empty, one out. Mets right-hander Kodai Senga threw three straight offspeed pitches to Alonso. First two, outta the zone. The third? Alonso absolutely annihilated it. We’re talking 414 feet of pure, unadulterated power for career homer No. 300. You know that bat heave was aggressive, too. The guy just joined the 300 home-run club as its 171st member, and in that moment, the Mets crowd was roaring for him, not even caring that their own team has already been eliminated from postseason contention. That’s a legend right there.
Mets Fans Gotta Be Kicking Themselves Right Now
It’s gotta burn for Mets fans, seeing what Alonso is doing this season. This guy is straight up crushing it. That homer against them was his 36th of the season. He’s been an absolute iron man, playing in all 152 games for Baltimore this year. His slash line is a solid .267/.362/.499, and get this: he leads the entire American League in RBI with 101! Before Tuesday’s game, his WAR was a legit 4.1. Think about it: the Mets and lead exec David Stearns didn’t even push to re-sign him last winter. Alonso ended up inking a five-year free agent deal with the Orioles, and based on this season’s numbers, he’s been worth every single penny. What a brutal miss for the Mets.
Orioles Are Seriously Making Noise in the AL Wild Card
That extra-inning win wasn’t just a personal milestone for Alonso, it was massive for the Orioles. They clawed their way to a 7-5 victory, which bumps their record to 74-78. This team is still in the thick of it, folks, actively chasing that third and final wild card spot in the American League. While the Mets are watching from the sidelines, wondering what could have been, Alonso and the Orioles are out there fighting tooth and nail.
The Orioles are definitely feeling good after that one, especially with Alonso heating up at precisely the right moment. Every game from here on out is gonna be a dogfight as they scrap for that final wild card spot. You gotta love this kind of September baseball.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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