In a dramatic night at Citi Field, Baltimore Orioles slugger Pete Alonso celebrated his 300th career home run by tying the game against the New York Mets in the ninth inning. The 414‑foot solo shot off Mets starter Kodai Senga brought the score to 3‑all and sparked a thunderous response from the 28,097 fans in attendance.
Fans honor former Met with a curtain call
After the homer, Alonso was greeted with a beer shower from his Orioles teammates and a roaring crowd that chanted his name as he rounded the bases. The Mets fans, still appreciative of his contributions, gave him a rare curtain call on the road, a tribute usually reserved for home‑team heroes.
“There’s a lot of history here with me,” Alonso said, smiling. “It doesn’t matter where and when, I just want to help the team win. I’m just really, really happy for us to come back the way we did.”
Oriole victory secured in extra innings
The excitement continued when Coby Mayo’s inside‑the‑park homer in the 11th inning lifted the Orioles to a 7‑5 victory. Orioles manager Craig Albernaz praised the dugout’s energy, noting the crowd’s acknowledgment of Alonso’s milestone.
“The dugout was fired up for Pete for a lot of different reasons. It was cool to get an acknowledgment from the crowd,” Albernaz said.
Alonso’s milestone places him among elite company
Alonso joins a select group of players who have hit their 300th home run against a team for which they played at least 1,000 games. Willie Horton achieved the feat in 1979 and Torii Hunter in 2013.
Following the game, three Long Island fans who caught the ball – Michael Shaw, Nick Maldarella and Chris Makarius – received signed memorabilia from Alonso, including a bat, ball and jerseys. The trio also received tickets and batting‑practice access at Baltimore’s Camden Yards for the next season.
“Never leave a man behind,” Shaw said, reflecting the camaraderie that defined the night.
Alonso’s 300th homer not only marked a personal milestone but also highlighted the enduring bond between a player and the fans who cheered him throughout his career, even after he moved on to a new team.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
