Pete Alonso [1] was National League Rookie of the Month for April and National League Rookie of the Night on Tuesday. He is a veteran in kid’s clothing any time you hear him speak. He is a franchise player exploding all around us.
Aside from Alonso, one-man wrecking crew that he seems to be, there were in fact several stars of the Mets’ 7-6 win over the Padres [2] at Petco Park, as necessary a win as a team could claim when a season isn’t yet a quarter done. A four-game losing streak was zeroing in on five. The last pitcher/hitter to capture a contest for the Mets, Noah Syndergaard [3], put them in position to lose their next. Unlike last week versus Cincy [4], Noah neither homered like a slugger (his one base hit led to him being picked off) nor dealt like an ace (6 IP, 5 R, 9 H). After throwing his final pitch, the Mets were down, 5-2.
They were, however, not out. A seventh-inning uprising, highlighted by Brandon Nimmo [5]’s return from ohfer purgatory, brought them even. Seth Lugo [6]’s two innings of tenacity kept them there. And Alonso? The object of Chris Paddack’s scorn [7], contrived or otherwise? Let’s just say Pete took Petco out for a walk, pulling a two-run, ninth-inning job to the Western Metal building that, had the edifice not gotten in the way, was bound to land somewhere in the Far East.
Alonso’s eleventh home run provided Edwin Diaz [8] a 7-5 lead to protect for his prospective ninth save — or two fewer saves than Alonso already has home runs. Diaz, as is the wont of many a decorated Met closer in San Diego, made it shall we say interesting. The Padres quickly halved their deficit, sent forth unsavory characters like Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer, loaded the bases even…but Diaz held tight, getting the ground ball he needed to bounce tamely toward Amed Rosario [9], who (for a change) made the simple play he needed to make, tossing said grounder to Robinson Cano [10], recent collector of a 2,500th hit and then some.
The Mets were once again winners and Pete Alonso remained freshly baked sliced bread, the greatest thing to which all other hotshot rookies can compare themselves if they dare.