Alonso’s Blast Stuns Cardinals-But That’s Not the Whole Story…

Pete Alonso delivered a game-changing two-run homer as the New York Mets powered past the St. Louis Cardinals 9-3 on Friday night, but the real story was a full-team offensive surge that left the Cardinals reeling.

Alonso’s eighth home run of the season, a 417-foot shot off Sonny Gray in the fifth inning, put the Mets ahead 4-3 and marked his 13th career homer against St. Louis-an impressive feat in just 135 at-bats Brandon Nimmo added to the fireworks with a solo shot in the seventh, his seventh of the year, helping the Mets extend their winning streak over the Cardinals to nine games, their longest against St. Louis since 1986

Francisco Alvarez was a key contributor, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs, including a crucial single following a Cardinals defensive miscue that opened the door for a big Mets inning. Nimmo’s hustle on the bases and Alvarez’s timely hitting helped the Mets rack up 17 hits, their second-highest total this season

On the mound, Sonny Gray suffered his first loss to the Mets after entering the night 4-0 against them, allowing five runs (four earned) in just 4 1/3 innings Mets starter Clay Holmes overcame an early scare after being struck by a comebacker, ultimately holding the Cardinals to three runs over six innings.

The Mets’ relentless offense and opportunistic baserunning proved too much for the Cardinals, who will look to regroup as the series continues.