Pete Alonso Leads Mets to Huge Win in South Beach

METS 7 - MARLINS 3

Pete Alonso is an absolute beast.

The New York Mets rookie first baseman continues to amaze in the early season, launching a 3-run bomb in the top of the ninth inning that propelled the Mets to a thrilling 7-3 victory in Miami, Monday night.

The victory continued an early trend where the Mets’ offense has found new ways to bail out a struggling pitching staff.

For his part, Alonso is now hitting .429 on the season with a slugging percentage of .747. While it is only four games, Alonso is turning into a serious weapon in the middle of the Mets batting order, and he has shown no signs of stopping.

Before the ninth inning heroics, twice New York had to storm back just to tie the game as Monday’s starter Steven Matz had an uneven performance in his first effort of the season.

The Marlins took a 2-0 lead on Matz when the lefty served up a two-run shot to Starlin Castro in the bottom of the first. But give Matz credit, he settled down after the gaff, surrendering only a Martin Prado fifth inning single over the next four innings.

As Matz settled in, the Mets chipped away.  A second inning double by left fielder Jeff McNeil brought home Michael Conforto with the Mets first run of the day. New York would later tie the game in the top of the fourth inning on a wild pitch by Marlins starter Caleb Smith.

Matz would run out of gas in the bottom of the sixth. With two runners aboard,  Castro again reached, this time on an infield single to bring home a run, giving Miami a 3-2 lead.

But, never say never with these Mets. Like they did in Sunday’s 6-5 loss to Washington, the Mets stormed back thanks to an unlikely source: Juan Lagares. Lagares crushed a 2-0, inside fastball over the right field wall for the game-tying homer in the top of the seventh.

Then in the ninth, the Mets took control. Facing reliever Drew Steckenrider, the Mets rallied for four runs in the frame to take the lead for good. Dominic Smith, who has been incredibly unselfish in his role as Alonso’s backup, singled to open the inning. After Lagares was hit by a pitch to move Smith to second, Amed Rosario poked one through the hole at second, sending Smith to the races around third base and sliding into home with the go-ahead run.

That set the stage for Alonso who destroyed the first pitch he saw, sending 444 feet into the air over the center field wall for a three-run homer. The blast was Alonso’s first of his Major League career, and one that Mets fans sure won’t forget.

Upon returning to the dugout, Alonso was mobbed by his teammates, but none happier than Dominic Smith, who high fived and chest bumped Alonso in jubilant celebration.

Of course, Edwin Diaz had to make everyone sweat in the bottom of the ninth when he loaded the bases with nobody out. Even a wild Diaz was good enough to strike out Jorge Alfaro, Peter O’Brien and JT Riddle in succession to get out of the jam.