Alonso Breaks out of Slump With Four Hits, Fuels Mets’ Victory Over A’s

Alonso Breaks out of Slump With Four Hits, Fuels Mets’ Victory Over A’s
Pete Alonso celebrates in the New York Mets' dugout after hitting a fourth-inning home run against the Oakland A's in New York on Aug. 14, 2024. Julia Nikhinson/AP Photo
The Associated Press
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NEW YORK—Pete Alonso had four hits, including a fourth-inning home run, and three RBIs to lead the New York Mets over the Oakland Athletics 9–1 on Wednesday night, snapping a four-game losing streak.

Francisco Lindor had two hits and two RBIs, while Mark Vientos hit a go-ahead, run-scoring double for the Mets, who had been outscored 31–5 in their previous four games.

“Today, everybody had a sense of urgency,” Lindor said.

Lindor’s third-inning homer made him the 17th player to hit at least 100 for the Mets, who had dropped two games behind Atlanta for the last National League wild-card position.

“It’s cool, for sure. It’s great,” Lindor said of his milestone homer. “It’s better because we won today.”

Alonso, eligible for free agency after the World Series. entered in a 9-for-48 slide (.188) since July 30 that had dropped the four-time All-Star’s season average to .240. He homered in the fourth off Joey Estes and capped a six-run seventh with a two-run double against Ross Stripling.

“He can carry a team,” Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Hopefully that’s the case here, where we can get Pete going and carry us for a few weeks, especially where we’re at in the schedule. And it’s contagious—if he gets going, he’s probably going to take some pressure off the other guys.”

The four-hit game was the seventh of Alonso’s career. He had his lone five-hit game on Aug. 15, 2019, when he was 5-for-6 in a 10–8 win over the Braves.

“I just want to go up there [and] have the best at-bats I can have every single time,” Alonso said. “I’m just happy I was able to come through today for the boys.”

Brandon Nimmo and J.D. Martinez also had RBIs in the seventh inning, when Will Klein gave up five runs while getting just one out.

“At that point in that seventh inning, 3–1 game, opportunity to get back in that game if we hold that lead,” Athletics Manager Mark Kotsay said. “But unfortunately, it didn’t work out.”

New York’s David Peterson (7–1) gave up just an unearned run while walking four in 6 1/3 innings. He has surrendered two runs or fewer in 10 of 13 starts this season despite averaging 4.3 walks per nine innings.

“Great team win,” Peterson said. “Fun to see the offense come alive, do what we know they can do.”

Daz Cameron had a sacrifice fly for the Athletics.

Estes (5–5) allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Shea Langeliers walked leading off the second inning and became Oakland’s first player to reach base in 10 consecutive plate appearances since Scott Hatteberg from April 9–11, 2003, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Langeliers flied out to deep left in the fourth.

A's second baseman Zack Gelof falls after making a spectacular catch against the Mets' Ben Gamel in New York on Aug. 14, 2024. (Julia Nikhinson/AP Photo)
A's second baseman Zack Gelof falls after making a spectacular catch against the Mets' Ben Gamel in New York on Aug. 14, 2024. Julia Nikhinson/AP Photo
Zack Gelof robbed Ben Gamel of a hit in the eighth, when the Oakland second baseman ranged into shallow right and made a leaping, lunging, over-the-shoulder catch of Gamel’s blooper.

Trainer’s Room

Athletics: Designated hitter/outfielder Brent Rooker was placed on the paternity list after his wife gave birth to the couple’s second child, daughter Blake Eloise. ... Infielder Armando Alvarez was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas. Alvarez spent three days with the A’s last week when infielder Tyler Nevin was on the paternity list.
Mets: Mendoza said right-hander Sean Reid-Foley (right shoulder) feels fine but has paused his rehab for at least a couple days because “the ball is not coming out the way he wants to.” Reid-Foley, on the injured list for the second time this season, has a 13.50 earned-run average in six minor-league rehab appearances. … Right-hander Dedniel Núñez (right-pronator strain) threw his second bullpen session Tuesday.

Up Next

The three-game series ends Thursday afternoon, with A’s right-hander Mitch Spence (7–8, 4.33) scheduled to oppose Mets left-hander Jose Quintana (6–8, 4.10).
By Jerry Beach