Pete Alonso becomes Mets' home run king in 13-5 rout of Braves

Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News on Aug 12, 2025

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — For one night, the Mets had plenty to celebrate once again.

Whatever happened before Tuesday night mattered little, and what happens from here is a story for another night. The story Tuesday night at Citi Field was all about Pete Alonso helping the Mets halt their losing streak at seven games with his 253rd and 254th home runs, passing Darryl Strawberry to become the franchise’s new home run leader.

Alonso hit two in a 13-5 win over the Atlanta Braves, breaking Strawberry’s record with a third-inning homer off right-hander Spencer Strider, and adding a sixth-inning moonshot off left-hander Austin Cox.

Three days after he tied Strawberry’s nearly 37-year-old record in Milwaukee, Alonso got the money pitch he needed in the bottom of the third inning. The guitar riff from Eric Clapton’s “Layla” had barely hit its crescendo when Alonso hit his, smashing a 95-mph fastball over the right-center fence to put the Mets up 5-1.

The fans were already on their feet waiting to see history. In his first at-bat of the night, Alonso doubled to the left-field warning track off Strider, and the fans couldn’t believe it. A 345-foot hit that nearly hit the fence.

But he didn’t miss on his second try.

A low line drive that traveled 394 feet, immediately after it landed in the visitors' bullpen, Citi Field erupted. Alonso tipped his cap while running the bases to acknowledge the fans chanting his name, while Mets came out of the dugout to congratulate him on breaking a 37-year-old team record.

The Polar Bear then stood on the bench, saluting the crowd one more time before the game resumed.

Even a disastrous start by Clay Holmes couldn’t kill the vibes. Immediately after the Mets took a four-run lead, the scuffling right-hander gave up four runs in the top of the fourth as the Braves tied the game at 5. The Mets had to remove him with two outs and runners on the corners. Left-hander Gregory Soto came in and got the final out to prevent the Braves from doing more damage.

It was obvious his accomplishment gave the Mets a jolt of energy in the bottom of the inning. Strider got two outs before the top of the order rallied around Alonso with a two-out rally. Francisco Lindor legged out a bunt single to extend the inning, and Juan Soto drew a walk to bring up Brandon Nimmo, a long-time teammate of Alonso’s as another homegrown Met.

Nimmo hit one to the same spot Alonso did in the third for a go-ahead, three-run homer.

It was enough to knock Strider from the game, a victory in and of itself for the Mets, since he’s had the Mets’ number dating back to his rookie season in 2022. Strider (5-10) was charged with a season-high eight runs on eight hits in the loss.

The bottom of the order tacked on two against Cox in the bottom of the fifth and one in the sixth. He was charged two more in the seventh when Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty hit back-to-back homers.

Alvarez also homered twice for the Mets (64-55), going 3 for 4 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Nimmo went 2 for 4 with three RBIs and his 20th homer of the season, Mullins went 2 for 4 with a double, Baty went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs and Alonso went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and three runs scored.

The Mets hit six home runs off the Braves (51-68), so many that they ran out of fireworks.

It was a banner night for an offense that has been downright dismal for more than two weeks, against a team that typically gives the Mets fits no matter where they are in the standings. Maybe the Mets will build on this win, or maybe the bats will go cold again, but they can worry about that tomorrow.

Tuesday night belonged to Alonso and the Mets.