Pete Alonso’s homecoming to Citi Field kept getting louder, and Wednesday night supplied the cleanest finish. The former Mets first baseman opened Baltimore’s four-homer show with a first-inning shot as the Orioles beat New York, 7-1, to complete a three-game sweep.
Alonso powers Orioles through Queens
Alonso had already carried plenty of emotion into the series, returning to Queens on Monday before reaching the 300-home-run mark of his career Tuesday. His ninth-inning homer in that game tied the score, setting up Baltimore’s 7-5 victory in 11 innings.
On Wednesday, the 31-year-old gave the Orioles an immediate lead. He drove Xzavion Curry’s pitch an estimated 410 feet into the left-field second deck in the first inning.
Quick facts
- Baltimore won 7-1 and swept the three-game series at Citi Field.
- Alonso, Jeremiah Jackson and Christian Encarnacion-Strand homered in each of the final two games.
- Chris Bassitt worked 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits and one walk while striking out six.
- The Orioles stand at 75-78, 2 1/2 games behind the White Sox for the third American League Wild Card spot.
Curry surrendered every Baltimore homer. Jeremiah Jackson launched a two-run drive in the second, then Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit another two-run homer in the third. Samuel Basallo followed immediately with a solo blast.
Jackson has filled in for Jackson Holliday, who was placed on the 10-day injured list before the finale with inflammation in his left wrist. The 26-year-old Jackson had not homered for Baltimore since June 14 before going deep Tuesday, then added another long ball a night later.
Alonso, Jackson and Encarnacion-Strand became the first trio of Orioles teammates to homer in back-to-back games since Chris Davis, Manny Machado and Mark Trumbo did it on Aug. 18-19, 2016.
The power made Bassitt’s job straightforward, but the veteran right-hander did his share. The 37-year-old matched his season high by covering 6 2/3 innings on 95 pitches, limiting the Mets to one run.
Baltimore remains on the edge of the Wild Card chase. The Orioles trail Chicago by 2 1/2 games, while also needing to move past Toronto and Texas, with only nine games left on their schedule.
After Thursday’s off day, Baltimore begins its final home stand Friday with three-game sets against the NL Central-leading Brewers and the Blue Jays. The season closes with three road games against the Yankees.
SEO Title: Pete Alonso homers again as Orioles sweep Mets at Citi Field
SEO Description: Pete Alonso opened a four-homer Orioles attack in a 7-1 win over the Mets, completing Baltimore’s sweep in Queens and keeping its Wild Card hopes alive.
