BLAST OF THE CENTURY!
Pete smacks 100th home run, then adds No. 101, as Mets top Marlins
METS 9 MARLINS 4
The Mets have only one option the rest of the season: Win.
They backed themselves into a corner during their free fall to begin August, seeing their 90-day first-place lead evaporate into a third-place standing. In their attempt to creep back into division relevance, the Mets must capitalize on their less challenging schedule during a three-game set in Miami.
Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor helped kick-start the series by powering the Mets to a 9-4 win on Tuesday night. One down, two to go.
Alonso, who loves demolishing baseballs in South Florida, smacked his 100th career home run in the first inning to give the Mets a quick two-run lead. His 31st dinger of the year traveled 425 feet to left field, and it was his seventh career home run at Marlins Park, or LoanDepot Park, or whatever Derek Jeter’s club is calling its stadium these days.
The Mets first baseman added another home run, the 101st of his career, in the ninth inning to cap his third two-homer day of the season.
Only Ryan Howard (325 games) reached 100 home runs faster than Alonso, who did it in 347 games. Gary Sanchez (355), Aaron Judge (371), Ralph Kiner (376), and Ronald Acuna Jr. (378) rank behind Alonso.
“That’s sick,” Alonso said, when he found out that he’s second-fastest to 100 homers. “Those are heavyweight hitters in that list. Hitting that triple digit, there’s a lot to reflect on in a positive way.” Carlos Carrasco (1-2, 5.88 ERA) and the Mets’ sloppy defense combined to give up four runs, making the series opener in Miami yet another tight game. The Amazin’s matched Miami’s three-error night, as only one of the four runs allowed were charged to Carrasco.
To give the Mets breathing room, Lindor came up clutch with the bases loaded in the sixth, ripping a two-run single to left-center field off right-hander Zach Pop to help give the Mets a three-run lead. Over his last 25 games, Lindor is batting .282, with 18 runs, three doubles, a triple, four home runs, 20 RBI, 11 walks, a .366 on-base percentage and a .494 slugging average with an .859 OPS.
“Francisco’s got a big heart and he loves this game,” said manager Luis Rojas. “He’s got a passion to play this game and he loves winning. Ever since he became a Met, he’s only talked about winning and nothing more. Nothing about himself, it’s always about the team and how we can get better.
“I think at a time like this and what we’re trying to accomplish, yeah I count on him showing up and turning it up a notch just because of where we are. He’s been in a lot of situations like this before.”
The Mets (70-69) remain four games behind the Braves despite the win. Atlanta beat the Nationals, 8-5, on Tuesday night. Encouragingly, the Amazin’s have won nine of their last 12 games against the two worst teams in their division.