Pete Alonso's 300th home run turns Citi Field against the Mets

Free-agent decisions have a way of circling back. Pete Alonso, now an Oriole after leaving the New York Mets last offseason, hit the 300th home run of his career into the Citi Field bleachers Tuesday night to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning. Baltimore won 7-5, improving to 74-78; the Mets dropped to 69-82.

The moment carried a particular distinction. Alonso became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit his 300th career home run against a team he had played 1,000 or more games for. He came to bat with Baltimore trailing by one run, drove the ball into the bleachers, slammed his bat in celebration, and trotted around the bases in front of the home crowd.

The home crowd did not boo. Mets fans had greeted Alonso with a standing ovation before his first at-bat on Monday. On Tuesday they gave him a curtain call after the home run, a reception that reflected a season of frustration with the front office's decision to let him walk in free agency. New York sits near the bottom of the National League East this late in 2026, trailing the Washington Nationals by 2.5 games for fourth place. Against that backdrop, the fans' applause for a visiting player read as something closer to a protest than a tribute.

Alonso, speaking to reporters after the game, kept his remarks measured. "I appreciate all the support for all the years I've been here, all the life I've lived here. Obviously, they're recognizing that and they appreciate that. It's a two-way street."

Starter Sean Manaea read the scene differently. He allowed two solo home runs across 5.1 innings and struck out six. Afterward he was direct: "As the 2026 Mets, I know we have definitely underperformed. But the guys in here work their tails off every single day, and to have that kind of reaction to an opposing player is crazy to me." He added that he respects Alonso while making the distinction plain. "Pete's not here. He's just not here."

Alonso said last September he thought about re-signing with New York, but the Orioles made an offer he could not refuse. He is 300 home runs into proving the point.