By Anthony DiComo | 5:38 p.m. EDT
This browser does not support the video element.
NEW YORK — For the second straight day, a throng of reporters crowded around Pete Alonso’s locker at the Mets postgame clubhouse, eager to learn the secret to his success. However, they kept a safe distance from Alonso to spread the disease that was clearly affecting him: red nose, tired eyes, nasal voice, loss of energy.
Jeff McNeil looked over close and grinned. “I’m trying to get everything he’s got,” McNeil tweeted. “It works.”
Alonso glanced at his friend; Though he’d rather not hear it, his illness only seems to have made him better. Alonso battled a sinus infection all week, hitting a home run on Tuesday, repeating the trick in dramatic walk-off fashion on Wednesday and hitting another home run on Thursday in the 3-2 win over the Rays that gave the Mets their first Serial victory since mid-April.
This browser does not support the video element.
That solo shot was Alonso’s 16th major league strike of the season. With 16 homers, he’s the second-fastest in franchise history, behind only Dave Kingman in 1976, and his 70 career homers at Citi Field are just a step behind Lucas Duda’s baseball record.
“When I’m out there, I’ll do my best – always,” said Alonso. “I just don’t want to use the fact that I don’t feel good as an excuse.”
Alonso was so ill earlier this week that he slept in a separate bedroom from his wife on Tuesday night to avoid spreading the infection. After Alonso threw a walkoff in the 10th inning in Wednesday’s win over the Rays, manager Buck Showalter texted him and asked if he might be interested in an afternoon off or at least a DH day. Alonso was outraged at this idea.
“It never crosses my mind,” he said. “If I’m physically able to do it, I’m always willing to do it. I’m always ready to push myself. I take pride in being out there and playing every day. I post.
This browser does not support the video element.
So Alonso resumed his usual roles of starting first baseman and cleanup hitter, and the results came as they often do. Alonso led in the fourth round against Rays rookie Taj Bradley and hit a home run 446 feet to the hitter’s eye in direct midfield — one of his favorite spots in five seasons with the Mets. That shot briefly gave the Mets the lead, and though Tampa Bay leveled two innings later to a Josh Lowe home run ahead of Tylor Megill, the suddenly resilient Mets regained the lead when Tommy Pham hit an RBI late in the sixth round. Infield single hit.
The victory went to Megil. The save went to David Robertson, who scored a goalless ninth goal. But the club’s respect went to Alonso, who has long proven to be one of the most consistent players in the league. Since entering the majors in 2019, Alonso has appeared in 97.3% of the Mets’ games. That includes 151 consecutive competitions from 2021-2022, as well as all 45 this year. He has spoken in the past of wanting to play 162 games in a season and challenging José Reyes’ achievable club record of 200 straight games.
This browser does not support the video element.
These are goals most modern players don’t share and require sacrifices like those made by Alonso this week. He was sniffling, constipated, and just generally exhausted. He didn’t just call in — he made it count. Alonso now has an OPS of .872 and 37 RBIs, along with his league-leading home run total.
“He really likes ringing the bell,” Showalter said.
Alonso has more than 24 hours to recover before the Mets’ next game on Friday and hopes the worst of the symptoms are behind him. In general, the Mets would hope that was the case for their entire team, which clinched a streak win over the first-place Rays after playing four weeks of under-.500 baseball. Late Thursday afternoon, Mets players cited the series as proof they can compete with anyone. There are many reasons to believe that this could be true.
This browser does not support the video element.
The challenge, Showalter said with a wink, is to continue that success once Alonso is fully recovered. The manager joked that he would like to find a way to keep making Alonso ill so this power streak can continue.
When he heard about these comments in the clubhouse after the game, Alonso gave a tired smile and shook his head.
“I mean I can [also] “I play well when I’m not sick,” he said.
This browser does not support the video element.