Pete Alonso supplies power again in Mets thumping of Cardinals

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LOUIS — Pete Alonso is off to a nice start in defending his NL Player of the Month title. After receiving the honor Friday for his March/April performance, the slugging first baseman was back inflicting damage to help end the Mets’ two-game skid. The Mets played to plenty of contact on this night, but Alonso’s fifth-inning homer provided firepower in a 9-3 victory over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Alonso launched a two-run, go-ahead blast in helping the Mets win their ninth straight game against the Cardinals dating to last season.It’s the Mets’ longest winning streak against their former division foe. “It’s a long season, but it’s a good month and I just want to keep this up and keep doing what I can to help win games,” Alonso said before the game. Alonso posted a 1.131 OPS in March/April and carried the lineup during a stretch in which Juan Soto, Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos, in particular, were slow in getting started offensively. On this night, all were contributors: The Mets totaled 17 hits. Clay Holmes received the win after allowing three earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts over six innings.

The Cardinals jumped on Holmes early before he completed his outing by retiring 10 of 11 batters. Masyn Winn delivered an RBI single in the first that put Holmes in a 1-0 hole.Lars Nootbar doubled leading off for the Cardinals and stole third to start the rally. Nimmo walked leading off the second against Sonny Gray and scored the Mets’ first run on Jeff McNeil’s ground out with the bases loaded.

Francisco Alvarez’s ensuing RBI fielder’s choice gave the Mets a 2-1 lead.Jesse Winker and Vientos each singled in the inning behind Nimmo’s walk to load the bases.  Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Please provide a valid ...