With another loss to Phillies
Pete Alonso wouldn’t last. In the bottom of the sixth McNeil was able to reach first on a fielding error by Hoskins. Then came Alonso, who skied one over the wall by right center field to lessen that deficit to 6-2.
Alonso’s homer, big No. 30, put the slugging rookie in a tie with Dave Kingman for the most home runs hit by a Met before the All-Star break, a record Kingman set in 1976. Alonso also joins a list of some of the best hitters the game has ever seen — players who’ve hit 30 or more homers before the All-Star break, which includes Mark McGwire (four times), Ken Griffey Jr. (three times), and Willie Mays, to name a few.
“When I first got up here I was just really thankful. I just wanted to make the most of every opportunity,” Alonso said. “I’m just looking to better myself in the second half and help this team win. This is a dream come true, I’m living out a fantasy right now.”
Of course, the sloppy Mets bullpen would make sure any chance of a comeback would be futile. Wilmer Font, who replaced Jeurys Familia (1.0 IP, H, K) after the sixth inning, gave up two solo home runs to Bruce (8th inning) and Hoskins (9th inning), letting the Phillies take another six-run lead.
“We just have to be better is the bottom line,” Mickey Callaway said after the game before going on to express optimism about the second half of the season. “I feel like we can a make a run at this thing. we can sneak into the wild card, we can sneak into the division. in my mind anything’s possible.”
The Mets will return from the break Friday in Miami for a game against the Marlins.