Pete Alonso tipped his helmet to the gang earlier than his first at-bat Sunday evening in what might be his closing sport at Citi Area as a Met.
It adopted a partial standing ovation from the sellout crowd in Queens, with the followers chanting the primary baseman’s identify as he obtained to the plate within the backside of the primary.
Regardless of the show within the Mets’ final house sport of the common season along with his free company approaching, Alonso mentioned he had the same mentality as Carlos Mendoza: He’s not taking a look at Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Phillies as something closing in Queens.
The Mets entered the sequence finale 1 ½ video games forward of the Braves for the ultimate NL wild card with what Alonso known as “a terrific alternative” to get again to Citi Area within the postseason.
Requested about Sunday probably being his closing sport at Citi Area, Alonso mentioned beforehand, “In my thoughts, it isn’t.”
Heading into the final week of the common season, the Mets have three video games starting Tuesday in Atlanta earlier than one other three-game sequence in Milwaukee.
Then they hope to have a wild card sequence.
“I’m actually excited for this chance that we labored so onerous for this 12 months,’’ Alonso mentioned. “As we speak isn’t about me. This about us and who we’re. That is concerning the 2024 Mets. From the place we’ve come as a bunch, we’ve come up to now. We simply want to complete.”
It’s one thing they didn’t do in 2022, when a three-game sweep by the hands of the Braves in Atlanta in the midst of September helped price the Mets a division title.
Alonso is assured they may shut sturdy on the highway this time round to safe a wild card.
“We’ve accomplished a extremely good job this sequence [against the Phillies] of enjoying high quality baseball up to now,” the primary baseman mentioned. “We simply must take it day-to-day. We’ve actually constructed ourselves a beautiful alternative. It’s an honor to play with this group. It’s sick placing on the orange and blue day by day. I adore it.”
Following Monday’s off day, the Mets will see how the 2024 season will find yourself.
“I’m excited,” Alonso mentioned. “We’re enjoying significant baseball. That is what we ready for all 12 months and now it’s right here. Now we’ve obtained to go do it.”
Because the finish of Could, the Mets nonetheless have the very best file within the majors, which additionally has Alonso and the Mets feeling good with per week left.
“We’ve performed wonderful baseball for a extremely very long time now,” Alonso mentioned. “And I believe individuals are gonna consider the 2024 Mets with ‘Oh my God’ or Grimace, however the one phrase that for me involves thoughts is ‘resilient.’ We’ve earned the best to be on this place and to be part of this group has been actually, actually particular.”
Over his earlier 9 video games heading into Sunday, Alonso was 12-for-33 with three homers, a double and a 1.142 OPS.
The Mets received six of these video games, serving to them acquire a lead over Atlanta within the battle for the postseason.
Maybe that’s why Alonso wasn’t inquisitive about wanting too far forward — or to the previous about his historical past with the Mets — with a lot on the road over the subsequent week.
“Each sport issues,’’ Alonso mentioned. “If we will simply keep locked in [Sunday] after which fear about Tuesday when Tuesday comes.”
