Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets opened their three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday night at Chase Field, and with fresh scenery also came the returns of outfielder Kevin Pillar, right-hander Seth Lugo and first baseman Pete Alonso.

Despite not participating in a single rehab game prior to returning from his wrist injury, the Polar Bear did not disappoint in his return to action.

Alonso grounded out to short in his first at-bat, but was able to come through in his second. After a Francisco Lindor single loaded the bases with two outs, Alonso laced a two-run double down the left field line to open the scoring in the top of the third.

Jacob deGrom helped his own cause, adding an RBI single in the top of the fourth to extend the lead to 3-0. Alonso then came through again in the seventh inning, crushing a two-run homer over the left field fence to make it 5-0.

“I just felt like myself, being able to control my body and my swing, that’s paramount. For me, in my line of work, I need to have that,” Alonso said of his return in a postgame presser.

He added, “I just want to say thank you to our training staff and our support staff. They helped me get my body right.. With the right treatment and recovery process they got me back out on the field. I’m just really thankful for our support staff, training staff, and strength and conditioning coaches.”

The big slugger finished the day 2-for-5 with the homer, and drove in four of the Mets’ six runs in the 6-2 series opening win at Chase Field. Mets manager Luis Rojas said postgame that Alonso’s four runs batted in were huge, and it was excellent to have his big bat right smack in the middle of things in his return to the lineup.

Alonso is now hitting .242 with seven homers, 23 RBI, and a .792 OPS on the season. While the ‘Replace-Mets’ were able to hold down the fort and get the job done for the time-being, Alonso’s presence will certainly be a welcomed addition back in the middle of this Mets lineup.

“Our group is just awesome to be a part of. Every single guy, wether it be the starting nine, guys on the bench to the bullpen and starting pitching, all of us have such a gritty attitude. I love it, it’s really special, we’re able to come together and play hard-nosed baseball,” Alonso said of this truly special group.

“The group effort from not just the defensive side, but the offensive side of the ball as well, that’s really come through. It’s really fun to be a part of. It was great to watch, but I’m happy to join the party again,” he added.

Alonso and the rest of the first-place New York Mets will look to keep the good-times rolling on Tuesday night as they take on southpaw Caleb Smith and the Diamondbacks in search of their sixth straight win.