Pete Alonso says tying Mets HR record is ‘really special,' but remains focused on the task at hand
The big man launched a 1-2 fastball up in the zone from Brewers right-hander Tobias Myers over the right-center fence for the 252nd home run of his career, tying Darryl Strawberry's all-time franchise record.
Alonso wasn't able to enjoy the moment too much being that it was so early in the back-and-forth contest, but taking some time Sunday he called the homer special.
'In the heat of the moment it was awesome, but I had to focus on my next at-bats,' he said. 'We're in a playoff and race right now, so for me I just wanted to stay focused on the task at hand which is win as many ballgames as possible -- but it's really special to say you are a franchise leader, not many get to say that.'
Alonso has truly been a model of consistency since breaking into the league.
The five-time All-Star has popped 34+ homers in each of his six full seasons. He's reached 40 three different times over that span and lifted 16 more across 57 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Once he cracks No. 253 over the fence, he'll sit alone as the franchise's home run king.
'When it comes it comes,' he said. 'This is definitely really special, but for me I'm just trying to help the team win and do my part -- the power aspect is my game and for me that's driving guys in, that's what I do.'
The Mets certainly could use more of that from Alonso -- the slugger has been turning things around with three homers over the past week, but the team is still stuck in a brutal stretch having lost six straight.
While things aren't going well, Alonso remains confident in the club down the stretch.
"For us, we have the upmost confidence in each other," he said. "It's a marathon of a season and things aren't always perfect, if there's any group that can battle through adversity and fight to the end and get the job done, I believe it's this group.
"We have pretty much the same core we had last year and years prior where we had a ton of success, and it's no different this year -- just because we're handling adversity we're not going to fold, we're going to keep going and keep attacking everyday."
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