Thursday could have been Pete Alonso's fourth and final game at Citi Field as a Met.
He's swinging with the feeling that he can do more this season, and with the feeling that he's a reminder of just how valuable he is.
In mid-September, with the team in the running to make the playoffs and without franchise MVP Francisco Lindor, the Mets' sluggers were revitalized.
Alonso homered to right-center field in the top of the first inning in a 10-6 series-opening win over the Phillies at Citi Field on Thursday, his third home run in his last seven games.
Is this the run the Mets have been waiting for?
At his best, Alonso has the ability to carry the entire team on his shoulders.
Alonso wasn't at his best for the first five months of the season, and although he hit well enough to qualify for the All-Star Game, he had a relatively weak season.
Through September 11, his OPS was .787, the worst season of his career.
But over his past seven games, Alonso has improved his OPS to .807, going 11-for-28 (.393) with three home runs, one double and seven RBIs.
“I'm happy I was able to take advantage of pitches in the zone,” Alonso said after pitching back-to-back against Mark Vientos. “Hopefully I can continue to be dangerous, make quality contact and get some good at-bats.”
Alonso and his manager say a good sign of a good at-bat is if his pitches are flying all over the park.
Four pitches after Vientos scored, Alonso saw Taijuan Walker's outside fastball and sent it soaring over the wall in right-center field.
“He uses the whole field and is very dangerous,” Carlos Mendoza said.
Alonso, who had one hit and one walk in four at-bats, pumped his fist between first and second base.
After crossing home plate, he shouted at the crowd, trying to get several people in their seats to stand.
Like Brandon Nimmo did the night before, Alonso called on Mets fans to come out to a game that might not be October, but still feel like October.
“This is what it's all about,” Alonso said. “We need to finish.”
This series concludes the regular season home games.
If they finish fifth or sixth and advance to the postseason, they'll play the first round on the road.
It's not guaranteed that Alonso, who is set to become a free agent, will return to the bases in Queens as a Mets member.
It's been an up-and-down season for Alonso, but he may be peaking at the right time.
“We need him,” Mendoza said of Alonso, a statement that probably wasn't true on a night when the Mets hit three more home runs, but it will surely be truer as the playoff race heats up.
