Alonso's record-tying HR sparks Mets over Braves
Pete Alonso tied the major league single-season rookie record with his 52nd homer Friday night, but it was J.D. Davis who hit the tie-breaking two-run homer that lifted the host New York Mets to a 4-2 win over the Atlanta Braves.
The seventh win in 10 games by the Mets (84-76) cost the National League East champion Braves (97-63) a chance at the franchise's first 100-win season since 2003.
Alonso, who was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts Thursday night, wasted no time Friday tying the record set by the New York Yankees' Aaron Judge in 2017. Batting in the first inning, Alonso hit a line drive down the left field line on the second pitch he saw from Braves starter Dallas Keuchel (8-8).
After the ball bounced off the blue padding above the home run line, Alonso, who was already in between first and second base, raised his arms and smiled. He received a curtain call from the crowd of 26,264.
Alonso walked, popped out and struck out in his final three at-bats.
The milestone homer pulled the Mets within 2-1. Amed Rosario laced a game-tying RBI single in the third before Davis homered with two outs in the fourth.
The Braves scored twice on four singles in the first inning off Marcus Stroman (10-13), who survived the rough beginning to last six innings, during which he allowed six hits and one walk while striking out eight. He retired 17 of the final 21 batters he faced following back-to-back RBI hits by Josh Donaldson and Nick Markakis.
Jeurys Familia tossed a scoreless seventh and Seth Lugo earned his sixth save with two innings of two-hit ball.
Todd Frazier reached base in all four plate appearances (two hits, a walk and a hit batsman) for the Mets. Davis and Brandon Nimmo had two hits each.
Keuchel, tuning up for a likely start in Game 1 of the NL Division Series next week, allowed the four runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out four over five innings.
Dansby Swanson had three hits and Donaldson finished with two hits for the Braves.
--Field Level Media
