No player needed a clutch moment more than Pete Alonso. Throughout the Mets’ remarkable September run to secure a postseason spot, and even during their wild doubleheader against Atlanta earlier this week, Alonso had yet to deliver the kind of big hit expected from him. Despite their success, the Mets’ star first baseman had been notably quiet, especially in the first two games of their NL wild-card series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Heading into his ninth-inning at-bat during Thursday’s Game 3, Alonso’s struggles were evident. His timing was off, and he didn’t look comfortable at the plate. With the Mets’ season hanging in the balance, fans might have hoped for anyone else to step up in that moment. But in baseball, especially in the postseason, pivotal moments have a way of finding you.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza echoed this sentiment after the team’s 4-2 win, saying, “As you watch that game unfold, going into the ninth inning against one of the best closers in the game, I looked to my right and saw Pete Alonso. I thought, ‘This could be it.'”
The Mets faced a daunting challenge going into the final inning. After back-to-back homers in the seventh gave Milwaukee a 2-0 lead, they were up against All-Star closer Devin Williams, and the pressure couldn’t have been higher. Yet, as the Mets had shown all year, they weren’t ready to give up. Francisco Lindor sparked the rally with a base hit, followed by Brandon Nimmo, who put runners on the corners. The stage was set for Alonso.
“I wanted to be in that spot,” Alonso said afterward. “I wanted to deliver for my team. I wanted to contribute in a positive way.”
Down by two, the Mets needed a hero, and the man known as “Polar Bear” was up for the challenge. But entering that at-bat, Alonso hadn’t homered since September 19, and in his last 41 at-bats, he hadn’t recorded an extra-base hit. His season had been marred by a mix of bad luck and underwhelming performances, with fans and critics alike calling for more from the slugger.
Mendoza acknowledged the pressure Alonso had faced: “It’s been tough for him all year. People expect 45, 50 home runs from Pete every season, and that’s not easy. But he’s handled the pressure as well as anyone.”
In a moment that seemed scripted for postseason drama, Alonso worked a 3-1 count before unleashing the biggest swing of his season. He launched a fastball deep to right field, clearing the wall and sending the Mets’ dugout into a frenzy, as Milwaukee’s crowd fell into stunned silence.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy was succinct in his assessment: “Alonso may have been quiet this series, but that’s a huge swing. That’s how it goes.”
With one swing, Alonso erased the frustrations of the past few weeks. His earlier misplays in Game 3, including a dropped pop-up and tripping over his own bat in Game 2, became irrelevant. The Mets’ first baseman had come through when it mattered most, propelling his team into the NLDS, where they’ll face the Phillies in Game 1 on Saturday.
“I’m just happy I could come through for my team,” Alonso said, reflecting on the game-winning homer. “It’s a really special moment.”
Mendoza added, “For Pete to deliver like that, it’s a dream come true. What a signature moment. Now we move on to the next round.”
As Alonso rounded first base, the entire Mets team stormed the field in celebration. “It means everything,” Alonso said. “It doesn’t matter who does it—everybody in our clubhouse has each other’s backs. That’s why we’ve been able to make this run and now move on to the next level. That’s who we are.”
The 2024 Mets have made a habit of defying the odds all season. After a dismal 9-19 record in May, they turned their season around, going 65-40 in the final months to secure a playoff spot. Winning a do-or-die game while down to their final outs, against one of the league’s top closers, only added to their improbable journey.
Mendoza reflected on a pivotal team meeting at the end of May, which sparked the Mets’ turnaround. “They came together, held each other accountable, and backed up their words on the field,” he said. “Win or lose, they never wavered.”
For a while on Thursday, it seemed the Mets’ magical season would end in heartbreak. But, true to their identity, they found just enough magic to keep their dream alive.
“It’s a special group,” Alonso said. “Not many people thought we’d be here, but we are, and now we’re moving on.”