DENVER — The Mets haven’t seen this version of Pete Alonso nearly enough this season, but were reminded Thursday about their slugging first baseman’s potential to take over a game.
It’s Coors Field, so the ball was flying, but Alonso hit two shots with such authority on this day that the setting was merely incidental.
With his bat providing the thunder, the Mets were afforded an easy afternoon before catching another flight, in a 9-1 victory over the Rockies.
Alonso homered in the first and third innings and Mark Vientos contributed a blast in the fifth to provide David Peterson, who grew up in nearby Aurora, Col., plenty of support in his homecoming game.
The Mets (61-54) won their second straight and for the third time in four games to complete a series victory in the third leg of this four-city trip.
Along the way they moved a half-game ahead of the Braves in the race for the NL’s third wildcard.
On the road trip the Mets are 4-3, with a three-game weekend series in Seattle still awaiting.
The Mets have bounced from Anaheim to St. Louis to Colorado over the last week.
Alonso, in his final months before free agency, hasn’t produced with a high level of consistency this season – most glaring is his .694 OPS with runners in scoring position – but still has a chance at reaching 40 homers for a third straight season.
Alonso’s two homers Thursday gave him 25 this season.
The Mets attacked quickly against lefty Austin Gomber.
Francisco Lindor, whose two-run single a night earlier put the Mets ahead for good in the ninth inning, led off the game with a double.
Jose Iglesias and J.D. Martinez each doubled to give the Mets a 2-0 lead before Alonso launched a 471-foot rocket to left center for the second-longest homer of his career.
Alonso homered again leading off the third, giving him the 21st multi-homer of his career and second this season.
The other this year occurred on April 13 against the Royals at Citi Field.
Vientos’ two-run homer in the fifth buried the Rockies in a 7-0 hole.
Alonso singled with two outs in the inning before Vientos cleared the left-field fence.
Peterson loaded the bases in the fifth, but escaped with only one run scoring, on Brenton Doyle’s sacrifice fly.
The Mets extended their lead to 9-1 in the eighth on Lindor’s RBI single and Iglesias’ sacrifice fly.
Tyrone Taylor doubled in the inning after Harrison Bader was hit by a pitch.
Peterson lasted five innings and allowed one earned run on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
Adam Ottavino, Ryne Stanek and Danny Young combined to pitch the final four innings behind Peterson.
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