Pete Alonso had gone 65 at-bats since his last home run when he stepped into the batter’s box early Sunday evening, the longest drought of his career. However, after 16 games, he finally flipped the script.
While Shohei Ohtani began the proceedings with a booming home run to open the game, Alonso helped the Mets take the lead back for good in the bottom of the first. Thanks to Juan Soto‘s hustle, Alonso recorded a two-run homer, the 10th of the season and 236th of his career. He now is seven home runs shy from taking David Wright‘s second-place spot for most home runs by a Met and 17 away from dethroning Darryl Strawberry as the Mets’ all-time home run leader.
Alonso had an April for the ages, slashing .358/.483/.684. May has not been nearly as fruitful for the Mets first baseman, who has slashed .226/.272/.357, even after the impressive effort in Sunday’s rubber game. It has coincided with the team’s slide, as they have been unable to replace his offense. Production from the Mets’ trio of Soto, Alonso and Francisco Lindor was enough to catapult the Mets to an 18-7 start, and with Soto hitting on Saturday night and Alonso doing his part on Sunday, the wins followed. For Alonso, that’s all that matters.
“(Breaking the streak) felt good, but ultimately, this is about team wins,” Alonso said, “I’m just really happy I was able to put us up front and respond back.”
The home run drought is over, as Pete Alonso drills a grooved curveball over the wall to give the Mets an early lead.
2-1 Mets, end 1.#LGM pic.twitter.com/x17g2WAV2i
— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) May 25, 2025
It was the first meeting between the two juggernauts since the Dodgers eliminated the Mets in the NLCS back in October. And after New York took two of three from their West Coast foes, the two teams have identical 32-21 records and +59 run differentials.
“It’s good, but it’s the regular season, and every game, no matter who we play, counts the same,” Alonso said, “For us, ultimately, winning series no matter who we play is really important for the end of the year.”
Despite the homerless streak that Alonso entered the game with, his overall offensive season has been something to be proud of in what is likely to be ahead of another free-agent offseason. Alonso ranks in the 99th percentile of expected slugging (.616) and in the 98th percentile of average exit velocity (94.9 mph), hard-hit percentage (58.3%), and expected weighted on-base average (.426). His overall batting run value is in the 96th percentile.
His defense has left a lot to be desired this year, but as is the case with most players, if he out-hits his defense, it’s more than worth it at the end of the day.
