Pete Alonso was visibly disheartened, perhaps even more than usual, on Thursday night. Even when attempts at encouragement were made, they didn’t seem to alter his expression. The day took a tough turn for him when he saw Kodai Senga, the Mets’ pitcher, experiencing pain in his right hamstring after Alonso had thrown in the Mets’ 4-3 win over the Nationals.
In the sixth inning, Louis Garcia Jr. hit a grounder from the first baseline. Alonso had timed Senga’s run well, but the throw proved too much. Senga leaped to catch the ball, landing heavily on his right foot to secure the out, but quickly grabbed his hamstring in pain, unable to continue.
Carlos Mendoza later conveyed that Senga had mentioned feeling something in his hamstring just before landing. But, for Alonso, the moment didn’t impact his personal game. “I’m just trying to play baseball, really. I’m just trying to support our pitcher,” he said after the match, expressing his frustrations about the play. “I did my best to make a good throw, but it’s just awful. I feel terrible getting involved in this.”
This season has seen Alonso dealing with some defensive issues. He had a costly mistake back in May, during a game at Yankee Stadium, where a wild throw allowed the opposing team to score, leading to an 8-2 loss.
Reflecting on the current play, Alonso admitted, “García is quite fast. I was just focused on getting the ball away quickly and accurately.” His teammates, including Francisco Lindor and Brett Baty, rallied around him, offering pats on the back in support.
Still, he acknowledged the support while also feeling the weight of the moment: “I appreciate their encouragement, but it doesn’t change the outcome of the play.” He added, “Yeah, we moved on, but at what cost? It doesn’t sit well with me. I’m just trying to do my part, and it highlights the challenges we face on the field. I hope this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.”
