The Mets’ 7-5 loss to the Orioles in 11 innings had a little bit of everything, but the ending belonged to Coby Mayo. He sent a ball just beyond A.J. Ewing’s reach and turned it into a three-run inside-the-park home run, finishing off the game-winning rally.
Pete Alonso’s first trip back to Citi Field did more than stir up old memories. It also seemed to bring out the frustration some fans have been carrying all season. And while the contract situation may still wind up badly, Alonso’s return made one thing clear: replacing him in the present has not been easy.
The Mets also made a roster move, claiming infielder Christian Cairo from the Phillies and sending him to Triple-A Syracuse.
There was another bit of Mets-related news off the field, too. The Arizona Fall League rosters are out, and eight Mets prospects will be heading there this autumn.
Around the division, the Phillies took a 6-3 loss to the Nationals, and Jesús Luzardo’s move to the injured list landed as a major setback for their rotation during a playoff push. Cristopher Sánchez also had a rough outing, giving up five runs in 6.1 innings while allowing eight hits and two walks and striking out five.
The Braves handled the Cubs 6-3 in Chicago, with Ronald Acuña Jr., Drake Baldwin, and Ozzie Albies each driving in two runs. The Marlins then beat the Diamondbacks 4-2 in 11 innings, with Esteury Ruiz delivering the key blow on a three-run double in the top of the 11th.
Elsewhere in baseball, MLB and the MLBPA teamed up with several other major leagues to push back against betting-related harassment of players, coaches, and families, urging regulators to do the same. Pete Crow-Armstrong also reached a rare level of production, with his season WAR topping 10.0. Roberto Clemente Day was observed yesterday, and that celebration also highlighted MLB’s shrinking Puerto Rican player representation, which stands at 27 this year, down from half of that 25 years ago.
Carlos Correa will not be returning to the Astros this season after the ankle surgery he had in May. Reds manager Terry Francona was encouraged by reports that the front office leaders are expected to remain in place in Cincinnati. And the Brewers clinched their fourth straight National League Central title behind another strong Jacob Misiorowski start.
In Other News...
Sean Manaea Had A Brutally Awkward Reaction To Mets Fans
Pete Alonsos return to Citi Field had all the markings of a classic awkward reunion, and it only got louder after he launched his 300th career home run against the Mets. The blast brought a curtain call from the former fan favorite, and while plenty of Mets fans rose to their feet to acknowledge what they were seeing, the moment still landed like a jolt in a ballpark that used to belong to him.
Sean Manaea was among those left uneasy by the reception, calling the reaction to Alonsos celebration crazy and making clear he still respected the slugger even if the scene did not sit right with him. Alonso, meanwhile, kept the evening moving by engaging with fans who retrieved the home run ball, swapping memorabilia and even offering tickets to Baltimore games, a reminder that the relationship between player and crowd can get complicated in a hurry when history is involved. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Manager Search Just Became A Huge Offseason Gamble
The Mets are heading into a managerial search with a lot more uncertainty than a typical offseason reset. After being eliminated from postseason contention and moving on from Carlos Mendoza in June, the club installed Andy Green as interim manager, and he is expected to slide back into a front office role once the search is complete.
Now the focus has shifted to who gets the job next, and the list includes some eye-catching possibilities. Reports say Carlos Beltran and Albert Pujols are among the candidates under consideration, even though neither has Major League Baseball managerial experience, leaving Steve Cohen with the final call and David Stearns involved in shaping a hire that could define how the organization moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Players Just Weighed In On Citi Fields Pete Alonso Problem
Pete Alonsos 300th career home run at Citi Field should have been a straightforward celebratory moment for a former Met returning to a familiar setting, but it ended up becoming something more complicated for everyone in the building. Sean Manaea and Francisco Lindor both said they were surprised, and in some ways frustrated, that a slice of the crowd was cheering for Alonso in the middle of a series that already had a restless feel around it.
Andy Green took a broader view of the reaction, calling it unusual but also a sign that fans appreciate players who do something impressive, even if they are wearing a different uniform now. The mixed response around the ballpark, including chants aimed at team president David Stearns, underscored how quickly the mood can shift at Citi Field, and why even a milestone as big as Alonsos can become part of a larger conversation about where the fan base is at right now. [Read more 🡒]