Remembering Mets History (2019) Pete Alonso Sets NL Rookie Season HR Record

Sunday August 18th, 2019: The Mets were back in contention & in the midst of the wild card race. After winning 15 of 16 games, they fell off a bit having won just two in their last five games. 

Most of today's attention, went to Rookie sensation, slugger, Pete Alonso. He entered the game needing just one HR to set the NL HR mark.

Mickey Callaway's Mets (64-60) were in Kansas City taking on Ned Yost's Royals (44-81). The Royals had fallen to fourth place with the leagues third worst record. The Mets Zack Wheeler (9-7) took the mound against Glenn Sparkman (3-8) in front of 20,661 in a Sunday matinee at Kaufman Royals Stadium.

In the top of the 1st inning, Amed Rosario led off with a base hit but was caught stealing. Joe Panik tripled to left field & Pete Alonso was issued an intentional walk. 

The hot hitting Michael Conforto blasted a three run HR to right, his 26th of the year for a 3-0 Mets lead.

In the bottom of the 4th, Zack Wheeler gave up a double to Hunter Dozier, then Jorge Soler reached on catcher's interference call. 

Wheeler threw a wild pitch moving the runners up a base. Ryan O'Hearn's ground out scored Hunter Dozier the Royals first run. 

In the home 5th inning, Bubba Starling & Brett Phillips both collected base hits. Then Zack Wheeler botched a throw on a sac bunt loading up the bases.  

 Whit Merrifield collected an RBI single, then a ground out from Nicky Lopez brought in Brett Phillips with their second run & a Hunter Dozier's sac fly scored Nick Dini with the go ahead run, as KC took a 4-2 lead.

The Mets erupted with a big 6th inning, Todd Frazier led off with a double to right field & was sacrificed over to third base by Juan Lagares. J.D. Davis singled to right field scoring Fraizer to tie the game at four.

Catcher Tomas Nido then doubled putting runners on second & third. Amed Rosario delivered a two-run single, bringing home Davis & Nido making it a 6-4 Mets lead.

The Royals brought in Richard Lovelady to pitch but he gave up four straight hits, as Joe Panik
singled to center, then Pete Alonso hit his 25th double of the year scoring Rosario.

Michael Conforto & Wilson Ramos both followed with RBI singles & the Mets had a 9-4 lead. 

In the inning, the Mets batted around sending ten men to the plate, scoring six runs with seven hits.

In the bottom of the 7th, the Royals got a runoff Jeurys Familia making it a 9-5 game. In the top of the 8th, Amed Rosario collected his third hit of the game with an RBI double for a 10-5 Mets lead. 

As the 9th inning began, the Royals were on their fifth pitcher, Jacob Barnes. Pete Alonso led off the inning & made both Mets history & MLB history. 

Pete blasted a 418 ft monster HR to left field setting a new Nation League HR mark for rookies with 40 HRs. The previous record was held by the Dodgers Cody Bellinger (2017).

At home plate he was greeted by his teammates as his incredible rookie season continued.

The HR was just one shy of a Mets single season HR record at that time (41) held by Todd Hundley (1996) & Carlos Beltran (2006).

Quotes- Pete Alonso: "There have been so many Mets greats, it's hard to believe I am one away from tying that. That's even more mind boggling. I'm really grateful & thankful that I've had this opportunity"."

Pete Alonso Trivia: Alonso would go on to set the MLB rookie record & Mets single season HR marks with 53.

Pete was 3-4 on the night, he would have ten multi-three or more hit games on the season. The win got the Mets to 64-60 in a three-way tie for the last wild card spot, 1.5 games behind the Cubs.