Coaches’ firing has Mets sad

Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor learned from phone messages that the Mets had fired hitting coach Chili Davis and assistant Tom Slater, leaving players unhappy.

New York made the move late Monday after a 65 loss in St. Louis.

“I found out on Twitter while I was eating my postgame meal,” Alonso said. “And then I cried at my locker a little bit.”

The first baseman referred to the dismissed coaches as “Uncle Chili and Uncle Slate. I mean, they’re like family to us.”

“It’s confusing for me, and, listen, I respect everybody who made that decision,” Alonso said. “But to me, it just doesn’t make sense right now.”

Lindor, a fourtime AllStar, has a .163 average. “It broke my heart. I was sad,” Lindor said.

Hugh Quattlebaum, the minorleague director of hitting development, was promoted to bigleague hitting coach. Kevin Howard, who was director of player development, was appointed assistant hitting coach.

Briefly: Milwaukee outfielder Christian Yelich is going back on the injured list with a recurrence of his lower back strain, a day after getting activated . ... Cincinnati reliever Amir Garrett was suspended for seven games for his role in a benchesclearing incident Saturday against the Cubs. He can play while he appeals.