NEW YORK – For the New York Mets, Wednesday was all about getting back on top.
A day after being embarrassed and even ridiculed by the Athletics in their fourth straight loss, New York rebounded with a much-needed 9-1 victory over Oakland. Pete Alonso, his nose crusted from an impact on the infield sand the night before, posted his first four-hit night of the year, including a home run.
“It was an incredible comeback game for us,” said Alonso. “We just had to react. It was a really important game, all in all.”
Alonso’s nose wasn’t the only thing New York had been bloodied of late. The Mets had been overwhelmed by the Seattle Mariners all weekend and returned home with Tuesday’s loss, where they turned in one of their sloppiest performances of the season. Austin Adams’ on-field celebration at their expense struck a nerve.
“The guys showed up, there was a different energy,” said manager Carlos Mendoza.
“We lost four in a row and felt like we had our backs against the wall a little bit. Today there was a sense of urgency from everyone,” said Francisco Lindor, mentioning that Jesse Winker celebrated the team’s first goal “a little harder.” “We felt it. We felt like we needed to create a better atmosphere.”
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finalPete Alonso had four hits, David Peterson was solid again and New York ended its losing streak at four.
The Mets are 62-58.
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) 15 August 2024
The Stars kicked things off. Alonso’s first-base hit led to a run in the second inning and the Mets’ first lead since Thursday. Lindor added a solo shot in the next inning – his 100th in a Mets uniform – and Alonso hit one off the second-deck facade an inning later. Alonso’s two-run double to left in the seventh inning capped a six-run comeback.
“It’s all about timing,” Mendoza said of Alonso. “He needs to get into a better, stronger position to shoot.”
Alonso said it’s about taking advantage of opportunities in the zone earlier in the at-bats – and not committing fouls and putting yourself in a two-strike count situation. “Hit hard forward” is his shorthand.
He did that in his two-home game in Colorado last week, then seemed as outmatched as any of his teammates during the series in Seattle. An RBI hit on Tuesday night presaged Wednesday’s outburst.
Alonso has at least one highlight every year: In every full season of his major league career, he has hit at least a dozen home runs through 30 games, usually with an OPS of 1.000. He hasn’t hit more than eight home runs in any 30-game stretch this season. He had never hit an OPS of .900 during a 30-game stretch — until his four hits on Wednesday last month pushed him over that threshold.
“When Pete is hot, it can be very scary,” Lindor said.
“He can carry a team,” Mendoza said. “We’ve seen it. Hopefully that’s the case here, that we can carry Pete for a couple of weeks, especially where we are in the season.”
Because, again, timing is everything. This is no time for the dawdling dog days of August. The Mets have a chance to build some momentum this week against two last-place opponents before taking on three of the sport’s best teams, including teams from San Diego and Arizona that are chasing them in the National League wild-card standings. There’s no more important time for him or the team than for Alonso to get going.
“It’s contagious,” Mendoza said. “When he gets going, he’ll probably take the pressure off the other guys.”
“He will be a big part of our success as we get to the postseason,” Lindor said.
After the game, Alonso was asked about his nose, as the scabs had already started to heal.
“I don’t know about the appearance,” he said, “but I feel great.”
(Photo by Pete Alonso: Julia Nikhinson / Associated Press)
