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Sign up NowMIAMI — Fans in South Florida were chanting “Pete A-Lon-So, Pete A-Lon-So,” making him feel like he was comfortable in Queens. This is a home away from home for New Yorkers, and the small, Mets-favoring crowd embraced Alonso after he hit the key home run of a crazy game, the key home run of this Mets season so far.
Still, it’ll be nothing like Friday for the home opener, when Alonso will be back at Citi Field, which is back exactly where he belongs. Kudos to owner Steve Cohen for getting the signing of Alonso done late following that Tampa tête-à-tête that decided something that often appeared very much in doubt for months.
Alonso is absolutely necessary for the Mets’ success, as he showed again here Wednesday night in the 6-5, 11-inning victory the Mets needed. And he very much belongs part of Friday’s festivities.
“Stoked to be back,” Alonso said after hitting the laser of a game-saving, game-tying, three-run eighth-inning blast that spared the Mets from an ugly loss to baseball’s lowest-paid team.
