Alonso hits two homers as deGrom, Mets beat D-backs
Pete Alonso hit two home runs to take the major league lead, Jacob deGrom struck out 11 and the New York Mets beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 Monday night in the opener of a crucial fourgame series for both teams.
The Diamondbacks began the day 11/2 games behind the Cubs for the second NL wild-card spot and the Mets trailed by four. Chicago played later at San Diego.
Alonso hit a solo drive in the first inning, then connected for his 47th home run in the fifth. He moved two ahead Mike Trout for most in the majors and closed within five of Aaron Judge’s rookie record set two years ago.
Alonso recorded his fourth career multihomer game. The first baseman also set a team record by reaching base safely in his 34th consecutive game.
DeGrom (9-8) allowed one run and three hits in seven innings. He gave up a home run to former teammate Wilmer Flores in the fifth and little else.
The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner recorded his 41st career double-digit strikeout game and ninth this season.
DeGrom struck out multiple batters in four innings and reached double-digit strikeouts when he fanned Ketel Marte with a fastball for the first out of the sixth.
YANKEES 5, RED SOX 0 >> New York officially ended Boston’s threeyear reign as AL East champs, blanking the Red Sox behind another big effort by James Paxton. Boston dropped 181/2 games behind the division-leading Yankees with 18 games left. Paxton (13-6) won his eighth straight start, allowing four hits in 6 2/3 innings, as the Yankees increased their lead to nine games over second-place Tampa Bay. BRAVES 7, PHILLIES 2 >> Mike Foltynewicz threw seven impressive innings, Josh Donaldson and Ronald Acuna Jr. hit homers and NL East-leading Atlanta beat Philadelphia. Atlanta increased its lead over Washington to 91/2 games and reduced its magic number to 10 with 17 games remaining.