MILWAUKEE — After he returned to the Mets last winter, the only question was when Pete Alonso would move atop the franchise home run list.
On Saturday night, he grabbed a share of that spot.
Alonso launched a second-inning homer — No. 252 in his career — that tied him with Darryl Strawberry for first place in the franchise record book.
It went for naught in the Mets’ 7-4 loss to the Brewers at American Family Field.
All along, Strawberry has been pulling for Alonso to break his record. He shared his excitement over the tie in a text to The Post last night.
“Congratulations Pete,” Strawberry texted. “Let’s go (blue heart and orange heart emoji).”
Alonso departed before speaking to reporters. According to a club spokesman, the slugging first baseman had a family matter to which he needed to attend.
The blast was Alonso’s fourth in eight games — he hit three during the most recent Mets home stand. Alonso had tied and moved ahead of David Wright for second place on the club’s all-time list with homers Nos. 242 and 243 on June 8 in Colorado.
On this night, he pounded a 1-2 pitch from Tobias Myers over the fence in left-center for his 26th homer of the season.
“I congratulated him there, as soon as he got back to the dugout,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It’s pretty special, but for him, it’s about winning, and right now we’re not doing that, but it’s a pretty special moment for him.”
Mendoza was asked what Alonso means to the organization.
“He means a lot,” Mendoza said. “We’re talking about a mark that is not easy to get to, especially with the amount of great players that have put on this uniform, and for Pete to be able to tie it is something special for him and all of us, and we’re proud of him.”
As frustrated as Francisco Lindor was at the sixth straight Mets loss, he said he was happy Alonso could grab a piece of franchise history.
“He’s one of the best power hitters in this organization and one of the best in the game, as well,” Lindor said. “What he does day in and day out is impressive, and I am super proud of him, and I am glad he’s my teammate and I got to witness history.”
Lindor said the entire team was aware Alonso needed only one homer to tie Strawberry.
“It’s something he doesn’t talk about much, but I am sure he wanted it,” Lindor said. “And for him to accomplish that, it’s a good thing. I am sure he’s going to hit one [Sunday] or the next game and be the sole leader of the franchise.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
