AP

Alonso hits tiebreaking HR, Mets beat Nationals 7-3

Sep 2, 2022, 7:42 AM | Updated: 9:15 pm

New York Mets' Pete Alonso watches his home run during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game...

New York Mets' Pete Alonso watches his home run during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)


              New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil reacts after being unable to field an RBI single hit by Washington Nationals' Alex Call during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
            
              Washington Nationals' Alex Call reacts afetr being picked off by New York Mets pitcher David Peterson during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
            
              Washington Nationals center fielder Victor Robles chases down an RBI-triple by New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo during the sixth inning of a baseball game on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
            
              New York Mets left fielder Mark Canha celebrates with Brandon Nimmo (9) and Starling Marte (6) after the Mets defeated the Washington Nationals 7-3 n a baseball game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York.  (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
            
              Washington Nationals pitcher Josiah Gray reacts after giving up a home run to New York Mets' Pete Alonso during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
            
              New York Mets' Pete Alonso celebrates his home run with Daniel Vogelbach during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
            
              New York Mets' Pete Alonso watches his home run during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso hit a tiebreaking homer leading off the sixth inning, and the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 7-3 on Friday night.

Alonso’s high drive to left field off Josiah Gray made it 4-3 and kicked off a four-run inning. He has 32 homers and leads the NL with 106 RBIs, 18 short of the team record shared by Mike Piazza in 1999 and David Wright in 2006.

“Anybody analytically that tells you it’s not real, it’s real — guys have a different level when there’s RBIs out there and people on base and teammates, more importantly,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said.

“You don’t drive in 106 or whatever RBIs he’s got now without having that ability to step up your concentration level in times of need.”

The NL East-leading Mets have 30 games left for Alonso to make a run at the mark.

“Him driving in 100, it’s special,” said Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, who has 86 RBIs. “It’s a tough task to do.”

Eduardo Escobar hit his first homer since July 26 and drove in three runs for New York. Escobar, who had been losing playing time to Luis Guillorme and Brett Baty before they hit the injured list, is batting .217, 36 points below his career average.

“A game like today really helps a lot with a player’s confidence,” Escobar said through a translator. “This year, I obviously haven’t had the result that I’ve wanted.”

Mychal Givens (7-3), who entered with an 8.03 ERA in his first 13 appearances for the Mets, recorded five outs in relief of starter David Peterson. Givens stranded a runner at third in the sixth and worked around a two-out walk in the seventh.

Showalter said three of his top relievers — closer Edwin Diaz and setup men Adam Ottavino and Trevor May — weren’t available.

“Givens was really good tonight. That was a key outing for us,” Showalter said.

Gray (7-9), pitching for the first time since Aug. 20, allowed six runs in five-plus innings for last-place Washington.

It was the first start at Citi Field for Gray, who grew up about 15 miles away in New Rochelle, New York.

“I thought he handled it really well,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “He kept us in the ballgame. That sixth inning, (he) comes out and he just made a couple mistakes. Ball started going over the plate, ball started getting up on him and for me that’s an indication that he was probably a little bit tired. But other than that, he threw the ball well.”

Jeff McNeil had three hits for the Mets, his 14th multi-hit effort in 33 games dating to July 30. Tomas Nido drove in two runs.

After Alonso’s homer in the sixth, Escobar had a sacrifice fly that made it 5-3. Mark Canha was thrown out at second base on the play, but Nido followed with an RBI single and Brandon Nimmo drove him in with a triple.

Victor Robles scored the Nationals’ first run by racing home from third on a third-inning throwing error by catcher Nido, who threw wide of the bag after Lane Thomas struck out on a ball that bounced. Thomas was safe at first on the play.

Alex Call had an RBI single in the fifth and Ildemaro Vargas tied the game with a run-scoring double that chased Peterson in the sixth.

Luke Voit finished with three singles for the Nationals.

Peterson was charged with three runs in 5 1/3 innings.

A NATIONAL HOMECOMING

Gray, teammate Josh Palacios and Martinez all had friends and relatives in attendance. Palacios was born and went to high school in Brooklyn while Martinez was born in Brooklyn before moving to Florida as a teenager.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: DH Nelson Cruz was lifted after he fouled a ball off the bottom of his right knee. Martinez said he’s day-to-day. … LHP MacKenzie Gore (left elbow inflammation) threw a bullpen Friday and could throw a simulated game during Washington’s series next week against the St. Louis Cardinals. Martinez said the goal is for Gore — who has been sidelined since the week before he was traded to the Nationals by the San Diego Padres as part of the Juan Soto deal — to make a start before the season ends.

Mets: RHP Tylor Megill (right shoulder strain) threw a perfect inning of relief Thursday for Double-A Binghamton. Showalter said he hoped Megill, who will return as a reliever after making his first 27 big league appearances as a starter, could pitch again Saturday or Sunday.

UP NEXT

Nationals: LHP Patrick Corbin (5-17, 6.56 ERA) snapped the Nationals’ major league-record streak of 43 straight games without a win by a starting pitcher in his previous start Sunday.

Mets: RHP Max Scherzer (9-4, 2.27) goes against one of his former clubs in his third attempt at earning the 200th win of his career.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Alonso hits tiebreaking HR, Mets beat Nationals 7-3