Alonso, Mets power up to pound Giants
SAN FRANCISCO — Pete Alonso came off the bench and hit his 33rd home run, setting the Mets rookie record for RBIs as New York beat San Francisco 114 Saturday to end the Giants’ sevengame winning streak.
Dominic Smith, Jeff McNeil and Todd Frazier all went deep as the Mets powered up with four home runs, one day after losing 10 in 10 innings. Walker Lockett (11) pitched five mostly sharp innings to earn his first major league victory.
Pablo Sandoval singled four times for the Giants. San Francisco (4950) had won 14 of 16 and was attempting to get above .500 for the first time this season.
Before the game Mets manager Mickey Callaway said that he felt Alonso needed a break with his young first baseman in a 3for30 slump coming out of the AllStar break after winning the Home Run Derby. Alonso wasn’t happy “I don’t feel worn down,” he said but took a spot on the bench until Callaway called for him to pinchhit in the pitcher’s spot in the sixth.
Alonso’s threerun homer off Derek Holland gave him 75 RBIs, one more than Darryl Strawberry had as a Mets rookie in 1983. Alonso already holds the franchise rookie records for home runs and extrabase hits.
Lockett gave up five hits and one run after being called up from TripleA Syracuse before the game. He struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.
Smith, whose error in left field in the 10th inning allowed the winning run to score Friday night, hit a solo home run in the second, had an RBI single in the fourth then added a tworun single in the ninth.
McNeil homered in the fifth off the foul pole in right. Frazier hit his 13th home run in the sixth, four batters before Alonso went deep.
Jeff Samardzija (78) allowed four runs and six hits in five innings. Samardzija has lost all six career starts against the Mets.
MESSY MOP-UP
New York reliever Stephen Nogosek entered with a 10run lead in the ninth but struggled for the final three outs. Nogosek gave up a tworun home run to Alex Dickerson and a oneout solo shot by Mike Yastrzemski before getting a flyout and strikeout to end it.
ROSTER SHUFFLE
The Mets optioned righthander Jacob Rhame to Syracuse to make room for Lockett. Rhame was the losing pitcher Friday.
HONORING WILLIE MAC
The Junior Giants Stretch Drive that honors the legacy of Hall of Fame first baseman Willie McCovey ends Sunday. Proceeds from the threeday event will help fund the program which supports 24,000 children in underserved communities. McCovey passed away last October.
TRAINERS ROOM
Giants: 3B Evan Longoria
(plantar fasciitis) is still wearing a walking boot on his left foot but has resumed baseball activities. Longoria played catch and did some light throwing before the game.