Hope You Like Home Runs Because

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Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil each hit two home runs while Tylor Megill and Paul Blackburn combined to suppress the Rockies offense as the Mets routed the Rockies 13-5. 

The Mets struck early and often at Coors Field yesterday. McNeil and his torpedo bat led off the top of the second with a home run to right off of Chase Dollander. Ronny Mauricio, the designated hitter, singled to right center. Tyrone Taylor walked to move Mauricio to second. After Brett Baty flew out to left, Francisco Alvarez singled to center, scoring Mauricio, who either read the ball really well or just got lucky by running hard right off the bat. 2-0 Mets.

Dollander was due for more punishment in the third. Juan Soto, who got on base six times in six plate appearances, singled to right center. Big Meat Pete followed with his first home run of the day, a two-run shot to left. With one out, Mauricio singled again, then stole second base. Tyrone Taylor doubled him home to make it 5-0 New York. 

Rockies Reliever Juan Mejia got the first two outs in the fourth, but allowed singles to Soto and Alonso. McNeil then slugged his second homer of the day and the third in two days to make it 8-0. 

Megill meanwhile held the Rockies hitless through the first four innings. In the fifth, Sam Hilliard started things off with a double to right. Braxon Fulford singled him in to put Colorado on the board. After Tyler Freeman walked on eight pitches, Jordan Beck doubled Fulford in to make it 8-2. Since this was Coors Field, it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that things could go sideways in a hurry. Big Drip hit Ryan Ritter with a pitch. With the bases loaded and one out though, he got Hunter Goodman to fly out to Nimmo in left, then Thairo Estrada popped up to second to end the threat. 

In the top of the seventh, McNeil doubled to right center, and scored when Brett Baty, 3 for his last 29 going into the at-bat, socked a dinger off of Seth Halversen. In the eighth with a runner on first, Alonso homered again. It was his 243rd home run of his career, and put him alone at second all-time in most home runs ever by a Met. He’s nine away from tying Darryl Strawberry for first. Francisco Alvarez hit his second home run of the year, a 450 foot bomb to straightaway center, in the ninth to give New York their 13th run. 

Paul Blackburn saved the rest of the bullpen and got a four-inning save, the first of its kind by a Met in 17 years. His secondary pitches weren’t sharp this time around, but he did fine all things considered. He allowed seven hits and three earned runs, walking one and striking out three. 

The Mets are now 4.5 games ahead of the Phillies and a whopping 14 in front of Atlanta in the NL East. They handled their business against the pathetic Rockies. Now it’s time for a well-earned day of rest.

***

Yesterday was the first time in his career where Juan Soto got on base six times in a game.

Jeff McNeil’s OPS went up to .888 after his two homer and double afternoon. He has the second highest OPS on the Mets (first being Alonso, of course.)

Regarding the Polar Bear: Will Sammon at The Athletic wrote an article about Alonso’s pregame preparations new to this season. He’s studying up on research done by people affiliated with Scott Boras and with Diesel Optimization, the place where he works out in Tampa, Florida during the offseason, independent of the Mets. Considering how well he’s doing with these outside folks, if I were Eric Chavez or Jeremy Barnes I’d be gussying up the ol’ CV.

Keith Hernandez kept bringing up how Alonso is having an MVP type year. The way he’s been hitting this month (like he hit in April), it’s not out of the question. 

Keith made a good point - Francisco Lindor should probably be DHing for now, and if Lindor makes it clear he personally doesn’t want to do that (which he has, according to Gary Cohen), Carlos Mendoza should put his foot down. Lindor went 0 for 5 and was replaced by Luisangel Acuña at shortstop in the seventh yesterday.

Francisco Alvarez was going to give the game ball to the rookie home plate umpire until Paul Blackburn insisted on keeping it since it was his first career save. “I’m going to have to get the ump’s name and do something for him,” Blackburn said. “Kind of funny.”

David Wright congratulated Alonso on passing him on the all-time Mets home run list in a taped message.

Mr. and Mrs. Met both partied at the Puerto Rican Day parade.

The Mets on YouTube uploaded a six plus minute sizzle reel to promote voting for Lindor into the All-Star Game. It’s for a good cause!

The Triple-A Syracuse Mets lost to the Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays affiliate) by a score of 8-6 in 10 innings. Luke Ritter and Joey Meneses both went yard for the SMets. Frankie Montas (right lat strain) had another not so hot rehab start. In three and two thirds innings (76 pitches), Montas gave up four hits - two of them being home runs. He allowed three earned runs, walked three batters, and struck out two Bisons (Bison?). Nolan McLean was a lot better. He came in after Montas and went five and one third frames, allowing just one earned run on two hits while walking two and striking out four. 

The Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies defeated the Somerset Patriots 7-4. Jet!(t) Williams came back from getting hit in the helmet and went 2 for 4 with two doubles, two runs scored, two RBI, and one walk. Nick Morabito went 2 for 5 with a double, two RBI, and a strikeout. Ryan Clifford hit an opposite field home run, his 10th of the season. Joander Suarez got the dub. In five innings he permitted six hits (two home runs) and was charged with three earned runs. He didn’t walk anybody and struck out five.

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones blew a two-run lead in the ninth and lost to the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals) in 10 innings 5-4. Marco Vargas went 3 for 5 and stole three bases. R.J. Gordon suffered his first loss of the year. In five innings of work, Gordon allowed three hits (one home run), two earned runs, three walks, and struck out four. 

The Low-A St. Lucie Mets defeated the Dunedin Blue Jays 4-2. Yohairo Cuevas went 2 for 4 with a double, two runs scored, and a strikeout. Edgar Moreta got the win, going five and two thirds innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, and no walks while striking out eight. 

Nine years ago today, the Mets selected Peter Alonso, first baseman, University of Florida, with the 64th overall pick in the MLB Draft.

Today is a day off for the Metsies. Feel free to enjoy the Stanley Cup Finals or watch the Cubs-Phillies game or read a book or whatever.