Pete Alonso broke the New York Mets’ franchise home run record Tuesday night, going deep twice and knocking in three runs as they beat the Atlanta Braves 13-5. Alonso’s first homer, a two-run shot off Spencer Strider, was his 253rd, surpassing Darryl Strawberry’s mark since 1988.
Alonso expressed surprise at reaching the milestone, saying “As a kid, you don’t really think that it’s in the realm of the possibility to be a franchise home run leader.” However, he attributed his success to hard work and competing for a World Series title.
The Mets celebrated Alonso’s record-breaking achievement with a graphic on the scoreboard featuring him and polar bears, alongside pictures of Strawberry. Manager Carlos Mendoza called it “special” and said he had tears in his eyes after the game.
Alonso has now broken multiple franchise records, including most home runs in 10 games this month and most consecutive games played by an Mets player. With a goal to play baseball until age 40, Alonso seems committed to continuing his success with the team.
The Mets have congratulated Strawberry on social media, calling Alonso a “homegrown player” and saying his hard work has earned him the record. Alonso’s future with the team remains uncertain, but he remains focused on achieving his goals.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45960973/alonso-breaks-strawberry-mets-franchise-home-run-record