This year’s Home Run Derby will be held at Dodger Stadium, where the event’s two-time defending champion got into blast mode Saturday night.
Pete Alonso …
This year’s Home Run Derby will be held at Dodger Stadium, where the event’s two-time defending champion got into blast mode Saturday night. Pete Alonso smashed two home runs, resurrecting an offense that had been silenced in the first two games of this series and ensuring the Mets would avoid the unchartered waters this season of a three-game losing streak. The Mets rolled to a 9-4 victory, beating the Dodgers for just the sixth time in 30 games since 2017. Overall, the Mets hit four homers, matching a season-high they established in the home opener against Arizona on April 15.
“We just needed the win today,” Alonso said. “That’s a high-quality opponent and the past couple of nights were tough games and their pitching staff did a great job.”
Alonso hit a two-run homer in the third and three-run blast in the seventh to finish with five RBIs, tying him for the MLB lead with 53. Along the way he became the fastest Mets player to 50 RBIs, needing just 55 games. Alonso’s 16 homers are tied for the NL lead.
“Pete’s a strong man,” manager Buck Showalter said. “He collides with the ball, and it goes places you can’t defend it.”
The Mets received a big performance from their bullpen, as Colin Holderman, Adam Ottavino, Chasen Shreve, Drew Smith, Joely Rodriguez and Seth Lugo combined to hold the Dodgers scoreless over the final 5¹/₃ innings behind David Peterson. The game was delayed before the start of the ninth as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, with his team behind by five runs, attempted to insert outfielder Zach McKinstry into the game as a pitcher.
