A homer in the eighth, and a season comes to a halt
Last night at Citi Field, Gunnar Henderson launched a long ball in the eighth inning off Dedniel Nunez. It came right after Pete Alonso struck out, one of those back-to-back moments baseball seems to specialise in. The Orioles won 2-1 and sent the Mets packing from the playoff race.
Baltimore struck first in the second inning on an RBI double from Heston Kjerstad. New York answered with a homer from A.J. Ewing, which also gave the Mets 11 players with at least 10 home runs in a single season. A first for the club. The sort of stat that, on a night like this, helps no one.
Because the number that matters is elsewhere. At 69 wins and 81 losses, the Mets are done and guaranteed to finish below .500. A season built around a record payroll of $358.4 million ends without October baseball.
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Alonso returns home empty-handed
The stage had been set properly enough. Nearly two minutes of tribute video before first pitch, 35,800 fans on their feet, and cheers every time he stepped in. Pete Alonso, the franchise’s all-time home run leader, was back at Citi Field wearing Baltimore colours.
The 31-year-old signed a five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles last December after New York failed to push to keep him. He left without a hit: a flyout in the first, a walk in the third, a groundout in the fifth. In between, he sent a foul ball into the second deck in left field that would have been his 300th career homer.
Baltimore keeps faint hopes alive
On the mound, Brandon Young lasted five innings despite five walks and five hits allowed, striking out six. He did, though, limit the Mets to one hit in 10 plate appearances with runners on base. At the other end, rookie Jonah Tong turned in six solid innings, allowing one unearned run and striking out six.
Yennier Cano got the win after finishing the seventh, and Rico Garcia earned his ninth save with a perfect ninth. Baltimore moved within three games of Cleveland for the final American League wild-card spot. A dozen games left to make up the ground, and the Orioles are straight back at it on Tuesday at Citi Field.
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