The Saratogian (Saratoga, NY)

PUT ON YOUR RALLY CAPS

Alonso hits 49th HR, helps Mets rally in 9th to beat Rockies

- By Michael Kelly

Pete Alonso hit his major league-leading 49th homer, then drew a basesloade­d walk during a fourrun rally in the ninth inning that sent the New York Mets over the Colorado Rockies 7-4 Wednesday.

The Mets began the day tied with Philadelph­ia, four games behind the Cubs and Milwaukee for the second NL wildcard spot.

Alonso hit a long solo home run to left field in the sixth. He moved within three homers for the most by a rookie, a mark set by Aaron Judge with 52 in 2017.

Jeff McNeil also went deep for the Mets, who set a franchise record with 225 home runs this season.

Trailing 4-3 going into the ninth, the Mets tied it on Brandon Nimmo’s third hit, an RBI single off Jairo Diaz (5-4). After a walk to McNeil loaded the bases, Joe Harvey relieved and walked Alonso on four pitches to put New York ahead.

Another run scored on a double-play grounder and Seth Lugo (7-4) hit an RBI single in

his first plate appearance of the season.

Rookie Sam Hilliard hit two home runs for the Rockies, connecting both times off Noah Syndergaar­d. Hilliard’s first homer went an estimated 447 feet to right-center and his second drive gave the Rockies a 2-1 lead. Hilliard was recalled on Aug. 27 and homered in his debut that night.

Syndergaar­d went 5 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on 10 hits and striking out six. René Rivera started at catcher — Syndergaar­d recently expressed his interest in pitching to someone other than regular starter Wilson Ramos.

Ramos pinch-hit for Rivera and drew a leadoff walk in the ninth to begin the Mets’ rally.

McNeil hit his 22nd homer, tagging Jeff Hoffman in the first inning. Hoffman allowed two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. TRAINER’S ROOM Mets: RHP Robert Gsellman (right triceps tightness) will throw off the mound again, manager Mickey Callaway said. Gsellman was scheduled to play catch Wednesday. UP NEXT Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (9-8, 2.61) will open a three-game series at Cincinnati on Friday night. He is 2-1 with a 1.74 ERA in five career starts against the Reds.

 ?? DAVID ZALUBOWSKI - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? New York Mets’ Pete Alonso follows the flight of his solo home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jeff Hoffman in the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Denver.
DAVID ZALUBOWSKI - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS New York Mets’ Pete Alonso follows the flight of his solo home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jeff Hoffman in the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Denver.
 ?? DAVID ZALUBOWSKI - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? New York Mets’ Pete Alonso connects for a solo home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jeff Hoffman in the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Denver.
DAVID ZALUBOWSKI - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS New York Mets’ Pete Alonso connects for a solo home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jeff Hoffman in the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Denver.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States