Alonso hits home run No. 301, gets another ovation from Mets fans — SkimNews
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- Pete Alonso hit his 301st career home run Wednesday night at Citi Field, driving a 74 mph curveball 410 feet into the second deck in left off emergency starter Xzavion Curry in the first inning.
- Mets fans chanted "Pete Alonso!" and stood for a pre-at-bat ovation, and after his 300th homer tied Tuesday's game in the ninth, fans directed a "Fire Stearns" chant at president of baseball operations David Stearns.
- Alonso hit a franchise-record 264 home runs across seven Mets seasons and made five All-Star teams before agreeing to a $155 million, five-year contract with Baltimore in December.
- Now 31 with the Orioles, Alonso has 37 home runs and an AL-high 102 RBI; Baltimore entered Wednesday last in the AL East but three games out of a playoff spot.
- The Mets, with a $350M+ opening-day payroll, were eliminated from playoff contention Monday and clinched a losing season with Tuesday's loss to Baltimore.
- Michael Shaw, Nick Maldarella, and Chris Makarius — three Long Islanders who caught Alonso's 300th homer ball — received signed bats, balls, jerseys (including a Carlos Delgado shirt), photo ops, and invites to Camden Yards batting practice and 2026 tickets.
Why it matters: The "Fire Stearns" chant crystallizes how Alonso's departure represents the Mets' broader front-office missteps — a $350M payroll buried at the bottom of the NL East while the franchise's all-time home run leader produces 37 HRs and an AL-high 102 RBIs for a division rival. Baltimore's bargain and New York's collapse are now the same headline.
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