NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso's storybook return to Citi Field was no surprise to Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz.
Alonso hit another home run against his former team Wednesday night, sparking another important win for the late-charging Orioles and earning himself another ovation from New York Mets fans still smarting over his departure last December.
The slugger's first-inning drive was the first of four home runs Wednesday for the Orioles, who beat the Mets 7-1 to finish a three-game sweep and move within 2 1/2 games of the Chicago White Sox for the last American League playoff berth.
It was the second longball in two games for Alonso, who launched his 300th career homer Tuesday night to tie that game in the ninth inning. The Orioles went on to win 7-5 in 11 innings.
“Not surprised at all, just knowing Pete,” Albernaz said with a grin Wednesday night. “Pete was (glad) to be back? Yeah, no doubt. But also, Pete definitely knows what’s at stake and he wants to win more than anyone in that clubhouse. He wants to go out there and compete and pull through for the team.
“Big series for Pete, couple big swings in big moments.”
The two home runs were Alonso’s lone hits in 12 at-bats during his return to Queens. He leads the AL with 102 RBIs, and his 37 homers rank fourth. His .864 OPS this season is slightly above his career mark of .857.
“There is a lot going on externally and I appreciate all the support and I’m so grateful for it,” Alonso said. “Got to stay centered and focused on winning baseball games, especially now. Mid-late September, it’s crunch time for us. Chasing down a playoff spot is the most important thing.”
The crowd of 25,324 stood and applauded prior to the Polar Bear’s first at-bat Wednesday and chanted “Pete Alonso!” before he drove emergency starter Xzavion Curry’s 74 mph curveball 410 feet into the second deck in left field.
Fans continued cheering as he rounded the bases, though the reception wasn’t nearly as raucous as Tuesday, when a pumped-up Alonso shouted in excitement and fired his bat toward the Baltimore dugout before beginning his home run trot.
That crowd of 28,097 — down from 35,800 for his much-anticipated return Monday night — roared as Alonso circled the bases. The cheers continued until he stepped out of the visitors’ dugout to take a rare curtain call on the road. Fans then began another chant of “Fire Stearns” directed at Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns.
Alonso hit a franchise-record 264 home runs and made five All-Star teams in seven seasons with the Mets, helping them reach the playoffs in 2022 and 2024. But they didn’t attempt to re-sign him as a free agent last offseason and Alonso agreed to a $155 million, five-year contract with Baltimore.
Despite an opening-day payroll of more than $350 million, the Mets endured a 12-game losing streak in April and have spent most of the season in the NL East basement. They were eliminated from playoff contention Monday and assured of a losing season with Tuesday’s defeat.
Following Wednesday’s game, Alonso said he hadn’t spoken to Stearns this week — though he added he spoke with clubhouse attendants, kitchen cooks, parking-lot attendants and security staffers in addition to his former teammates.
As his postgame interview ended, Alonso embraced longtime Mets radio play-by-play man Howie Rose, who is retiring at the end of the season.
“There’s so much life lived here. There’s a lot of really, really good people I was able to see,” Alonso said.
Alonso received a two-minute tribute video prior to the Orioles’ 2-1 win on Monday night. He was showered with a thunderous ovation before his first at-bat minutes later, when he was accompanied to the plate by “Layla,” one of his walk-up songs, as “Welcome Back, Pete!” flashed next to his picture on the scoreboard.
He was given his home run ball Tuesday by the trio of Long Islanders — Michael Shaw, Nick Maldarella and Chris Makarius — who teamed up to catch the milestone drive, which caromed off the second deck in left field and fell into the first deck.
Alonso signed a bat and a ball for each fan. He also signed the shirts they were wearing — a Mets Alonso jersey for Shaw and Makarius and a Carlos Delgado shirt for Maldarella — and offered them tickets and batting-practice access at Camden Yards in Baltimore.
Alonso also posed for a group picture and for photos with each person individually.
“I mean, who doesn’t love Pete?” Shaw said.
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