The spring of Pete Alonso continued Tuesday night, as the sizzling first baseman added another key run-scoring double in a 5-1 win over the Phillies at Citi Field.
And he added some excellent work with his glove — particularly in the top of the second, when Alonso picked a tough throw from Mark Vientos to prevent a run from scoring.
Afterward, Carlos Mendoza called Alonso “probably the best in the game” at scooping balls in the dirt at first base.
“For me, I want to be the best first baseman I can be,” Alonso said. “That’s part of my game and the position and I take immense pride in all of it.”
But Alonso’s calling card will always be his bat, and on Tuesday he came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the seventh of a one-run game and the equally red-hot Francisco Lindor at third.
Alonso ripped a double to left to score Lindor, his 25th RBI of the young season — tied with Aaron Judge for most in the majors — as the Mets showed no signs of slowing down with a sixth straight win.
The two-base hit ignited a three-run inning that helped the Mets seal the victory without much late-inning drama.
Alonso also singled in the third and was hit by a pitch near his left forearm in the fifth.
He shook off the 94 mph sinker from Philadelphia right-hander Joe Ross and remained in the game following a brief visit from Mendoza and a trainer.
Just as important as the insurance run he delivered in the seventh was the run he kept the Phillies from scoring in the second.
With Griffin Canning on the mound and in trouble for much of the first two innings, Philadelphia had already tied the game at 1-1 with three consecutive hits and had runners on second and third with two outs.
Trea Turner hit a grounder that Vientos ranged to his left to get.
Vientos threw to first at an awkward angle and bounced it, but Alonso made a diving scoop and managed to keep his foot on the bag to end the inning and keep the game tied.
“I gave him a big hug right after that,” Vientos said. “He’s underappreciated with how good he is over there.”
Alonso has never been known for his defense and his metrics in that part of the game remain mostly subpar.
“I know his defensive numbers [aren’t good], I guess because of range,” Mendoza said. “But when it comes to picking balls in the dirt, Pete is in the conversation. That play was a game-changer.”
Alonso made another good pick at first when Tyrone Taylor doubled off Kyle Schwarber at first base from center field in the eighth on a fly ball by Nick Castellanos.
“It’s all about winning games,” Alonso said. “However I can help us do it, whether it’s putting points up or making a play at first, that’s all I care about.”
