The Mets (64-55) defeated the Braves (51-68) 13-5 on Tuesday evening at Citi Field. The win was fueled by a powerful offensive showing that included 16 hits and a club-record-tying six home runs, two of which saw Pete Alonso surpass Daryl Strawberry as the Mets’ all-time home run record holder.
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Alonso’s record-setting blasts helped the team overcome an early deficit and a shaky outing from starter Clay Holmes. Gregory Soto (1-3, 3.35) earned the win, while Justin Hagenman (1, 3.26) got the save. Showing a strong rallying cry, the Mets scored all of their runs with two outs in the blowout win against the Braves. The victory, which snapped a seven-game losing streak, hopefully signals a turnaround for a Mets team that has been struggling since the All-Star break.
Clay Holmes got the start for New York and struggled from the jump. He gave up a run in the first inning after a walk, a double, and an RBI groundout gave the Braves the early 1-0 lead.
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However, the Mets’ offense responded immediately in the second inning. Pete Alonso led off with a double, and after a two-out single from Cedric Mullins tied the game, Francisco Alvarez launched a two-run homer to put New York up 3-1.
The third inning delivered a historic moment for the franchise. Following a two-out single from Brandon Nimmo, Alonso hit a record-breaking two-run home run. This was his 253rd career home run, making him the Mets’ all-time home run leader. The blast, his 27th of the season, broke the record held by Darryl Strawberry since May 3, 1988. Nineteen of Alonso’s home runs this season have come with men on base.
Holmes’ struggles continued in the fourth inning. He loaded the bases with one out, and the Braves capitalized with a two-run double, cutting the lead to 5-3. After a walk reloaded the bases, a groundout and another RBI double tied the game at 5-5. It was another implosion for a Mets’ starting pitcher. Holmes was then pulled in favor of Gregory Soto, who got the final out via groundout.
Fortunately for the Mets, that was the last time Atlanta would score. New York’s offense quickly broke the game open with a series of home runs. In the bottom of the fourth, with two outs, Francisco Lindor singled, Juan Soto walked, and Nimmo hit a three-run homer, his 20th of the year, to make it 8-5.
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The Mets continued their two-out rally in the fifth. Mullins doubled, Alvarez followed with an RBI double to make it 9-5, and Brett Baty added an RBI single for a 10-5 lead.
In the sixth, Alonso hit his second home run of the night, a two-out shot that made it 11-5 and marked his 28th of the season. The home run barrage wasn’t over yet—Alvarez hit his second homer in the seventh to make it 12-5, and Baty immediately followed with a solo shot, his 13th of the year, to extend the lead to 13-5. It was Alvy’s fifth career multi-home run game.
The bullpen, in contrast to the starter, was solid. Justin Hagenman tossed four hitless, scoreless innings in relief to close out the game.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Pete Alonso earns Tuesday’s honor, with a record-breaking evening. The “Polar Bear” went 3-for-5, including three RBI and two home runs. He became the Mets’ home run king, earning the club’s all-time home run record, with his 253rd and 254th home runs of his career hit this evening.
ON DECK
David Peterson (7-5, 2.98 ERA) will get the start for New York on Wednesday. In his last time out against the Guardians, he tossed six innings and allowed four runs on five hits, walking two and striking out seven.
Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 6.18 ERA) will take the mound for the Braves. In his last outing versus the Marlins, he threw five and 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on 9 hits, with two walks and a pair of strikeouts.
The first pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. on SNY.
