As Pete Alonso said about his injured right hand before Thursday’s 3-2 win over Arizona, he didn’t just dodge a bullet, he shot one.
Alonso started Wednesday’s game against the Dodgers on the bench after being hit in the hand by a 93 mph fastball, but he came in to pinch hit for Brett Beatty with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning and the Mets trailing by one run, and smashed a hard double to left field.
In the end, Alonso hit an RBI single off Francisco Lindor to tie the game and give the Mets a long-awaited win after Alonso received the lucky break.
Alonso underwent a CT scan before the match, which revealed only a bone bruise.
The first baseman took batting and fielding drills before the game and was told by the training staff he could play as long as he could tolerate the pain.
After the match, Alonso said his hand was not hurting.
“I felt normal in the cage,” Alonso said. [could] After I found out what happened.”
He admitted he was anxious when he was first attacked, saying he “didn’t know what to think or what to think.”
Manager Carlos Mendoza said Alonso had stopped by his office twice after training in front of the goal before the match to let the manager know he was available.
Alonso was even more pleased to have helped end a four-game losing streak.
“I’m really happy with all the reactions,” Alonso said. “I feel very fortunate and lucky. I’m happy I was able to have a positive impact on the game.”
Alonso said he still needed treatment after his win but is due to compete again on Friday.
He has suffered injuries to his hands and the surrounding area for many years.
In 2017, he was forced to miss six weeks of minor league baseball after breaking a bone in his hand while drilling.
He was pitched in 2021, diagnosed with a right hand sprain and placed on the disabled list.
Last season, he was forced to sit on the bench after suffering a bone contusion and sprain after being hit in the left wrist by a Charlie Morton fastball.
“Every time it’s really different because there’s so many little bones and tissues and ligaments and nerves and stuff,” Alonso said. “When that happens, everything hurts, but until we see it with imaging, we don’t really know. And I feel very lucky. I feel very lucky. It could have been a lot worse.”
With Alonso not in the starting lineup, Mark Vientos moved to the other side of the diamond and started at first base, with Batty at third base.
The Mets’ only reserve infielder was DJ Stewart, a natural outfielder who had practiced at first base.
As Alonso entered the track, Vientos moved up to third place, while Alonso remained in first place.
