Alonso Stays Hot, Mets Hang On for 7-6 Win Over A’s

The winning formula for the Mets so far this year has been excellent pitching and just enough hitting. New York entered Friday with a 2.10 team ERA and a .210 team batting average. (How is that for symmetry?!)

For one game at least, the Mets tossed aside the script.

Pete Alonso stayed hot with another homer and a double as he now has 18 RBIs in 13 games, and the Mets (9-4) beat the Athletics 7-6. Fans were even chanting his name in West Sacramento.

Brandon Nimmo led off the second inning with a solo blast, his third home run of the year. Luisangel Acuña doubled later in the inning and came in to score when Luis Torrens doubled in his first at-bat in six days after returning from a bruised right forearm.

Alonso went 3-for-3 with a sacrifice fly to raise his slash line to .378/.482/.778. He also cut down Brent Rooker at home, who tried to score from third on a ground ball with the infield playing in.

The Mets led 6-1 after a Starling Marte two-run double highlighted a three-run sixth.

Griffin Canning (1-1) gave up four earned runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out three and got some help when Jose Siri made a leaping catch on the warning track in left center with two men on to end the fifth inning. He pitched 5 1/3 innings and was chased when Miguel Andujar hit a two-run homer to bring the A’s (5-9) within two runs at 6-4.

Reed Garrett was shaky in relief of Canning. He served up a double to Max Muncy and walked two to load the bases before Tyler Soderstrom lined a shot to right with a 109.3 mph exit velocity that found Juan Soto’s glove.

Ryne Stanek pitched a 1-2-3 seventh before Alonso’s solo shot extended the lead to three runs in the seventh. A.J. Minter pitched a scoreless eighth.

Edwin Díaz notched his third save, but it was rough. He walked two, giving up an RBI double to Shea Langeliers and a sacrifice fly to JJ Bleday. The Athletics had the tying run at second with two outs, but Díaz got Jacob Wilson to ground out to second to end the game.

Stat of the Game

The Mets made the Athletics pitchers work. Starter JP Sears needed 101 pitches to make it through four innings, and the A’s tossed 210 pitches in total.

Player of the Game

Alonso is 10-for-17 in his last five games with a home run, four doubles and eight RBIs. The last time he struck out was on April 5.

On Deck

David Peterson (1-0, 2.53 ERA) will try to maintain the Mets’ perfect record in Sacramento. Game time is 4:05 p.m. ET and it will be broadcast on SNY. The Athletics’ starter is TBD.

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