Pete Alonso took two curtain calls Tuesday night, a fitting response to him not only claiming sole possession of the franchise home run record but also helping generate momentum to end a wretched Mets losing streak.
This was one that even a rough starting pitching performance couldn’t spoil. Alonso, with two mighty swings, brought the Citi Field crowd to a roar, reminding all that summer is still very much alive in Queens.
Alonso’s two home runs — the first of which was No. 253 in his career and moved him ahead of Darryl Strawberry on the franchise’s all-time list — led a 13-5 demolition of the Braves that snapped the seven-game Mets losing streak, which had matched a season high.
The Mets blasted six homers overall. Alonso and Francisco Alvarez each went deep twice and Brandon Nimmo’s three-run blast provided the go-ahead runs. Brett Baty also homered.
The Mets picked up a game on the Phillies in the NL East race and now trail by five lengths for first place. In the wild-card race, the Mets remained two games ahead of the Reds for the third and final spot in the National League.
The Mets survived an ugly start from Clay Holmes, who lasted just 3 ²/₃ innings, and allowed five earned runs on six hits and five walks with four strikeouts. The right-hander was handed a 5-1 lead but departed in the fourth with the game tied, after throwing 85 pitches. It followed outings in which Kodai Senga, Frankie Montas (behind an opener) and Sean Manaea failed to complete five innings.
Holmes got into immediate trouble by walking Jurickson Profar to begin the game before Matt Olsen doubled and Drake Baldwin’s groundout brought in a run.
Holmes struck out Marcell Ozuna and Michael Harris II to prevent further damage.
Cedric Mullins delivered with a two-out RBI single in the second to tie it 1-1. Alvarez then gave the Mets the lead with a two-run blast — his fifth homer of the season. Alvarez jumped on a 1-1 fastball and cleared the right field fence. The rally in the inning started with Alonso’s leadoff double to left field against Spencer Strider.
Alonso’s record breaker, a two-run blast in the third, extended the Mets lead to 5-1. Alonso, who tied Strawberry’s franchise mark three nights earlier in Milwaukee, homered again later and now has six blasts in 10 games.
Holmes never escaped the fourth. After loading the bases with one out, Holmes surrendered a two-run double to Nacho Alvarez Jr. that sliced the Mets lead to 5-3. Nick Allen walked and Profar’s fielder’s choice brought in another run. Olson’s RBI double, with lefty Gregory Soto warming in the bullpen, tied it 5-5.
Soto replaced Holmes and retired Baldwin to strand two base runners.
Francisco Lindor’s two-out bunt single ignited a rally in the bottom of the inning. After Juan Soto walked, Nimmo launched a three-run homer that gave the Mets an 8-5 lead. It was a welcome contribution from Nimmo (for the second time in as many innings — he singled ahead of Alonso’s homer) after beginning play with a .437 OPS in August.
The Mets continued to pile it on. Alvarez just missed his second homer of the night, launching an RBI double in the fifth before Baty’s ensuing single buried the Braves in a 10-5 hole. Mullins’ two-out double ignited the rally.
Alonso homered again in the sixth and Alvarez and Baty went back-to-back in the seventh to complete the onslaught.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
