LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pete Alonso was already going to be a favorite for next month’s All-Star Home Run Derby as the two-time defending champion. With the way he’s hit at Dodger Stadium, the Mets slugger looks primed for a three-peat.
Alonso homered twice for the second time this season, drove in five runs and bounced back from a costly error as New York beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-4 Saturday night.
“I still haven’t gotten an invite yet. I really enjoy it,” said a smiling Alonso about the July 18 derby, which will be held the night before the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium for the first time since 1980.
The invite is a matter of formality for Alonso, who has bashed his way through the season’s first two months. He won the Derby in 2019 at Cleveland, then again last year in Atlanta. The All-Star Game was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
He’s tied with LA’s Mookie Betts for the NL home run lead at 19 and with Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez for the major league lead in RBIs with 53.
Alonso is the first player in the 60-year history of Dodger Stadium to go deep seven times in his first 11 games played here.
“I mean, it’s a very humbling stat. It’s one of those historic parks,” Alonso said.
Francisco Lindor and Eduardo Escobar also connected for the Mets, who bounced back after being held to one run in dropping the first two games of the four-game series between the NL’s top teams. Coincidentally, that run was also on an Alonso homer.
“Pete’s a strong man. When he collides with the ball, it places where you can’t defend it,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said.
Dodgers starter Walker Buehler was chased early, and Los Angeles ended up using seven pitchers. Manager Dave Roberts tried to bring in infielder Zach McKinstry to pitch the ninth inning, apparently unaware of a rule…
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