Unusual Fan Reaction at Citi Field as Ex-Met Hits Milestone

Sean Manaea, in his 11 years in the majors, found himself in an unprecedented situation at Citi Field on Tuesday night.

The Mets, the home team and Manaea’s current squad, held a slim one-run lead as the game approached its final moments.

Then, former fan favorite and current Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso stepped up to the plate and belted a solo home run, marking his 300th career homer.

Surprisingly, the home crowd erupted in cheers as if Alonso still played for them, seemingly indifferent to the impact of that hit on their team’s chances.

“I respect him a lot, I really do, but for our team, the 2026 Mets, I realize we haven’t lived up to expectations. But everyone here puts in so much effort every single day. To see that kind of reaction from fans for an opposing player—it’s wild,” Manaea remarked after the Mets’ 7-5 defeat in 11 innings. “I just haven’t witnessed anything like that before. It’s kinda bizarre.”

Typically, former fan favorites get a warm reception when returning to their old teams, but Alonso’s homecoming seems to have strayed far from that norm.

Mets supporters have been cheering him passionately, almost as if he were still in their colors, disregarding the Mets’ status in the game.

Maybe it’s bottled-up frustration stemming from the Mets not keeping Alonso, despite multiple offers over the years that he turned down.

There’s also a lot of emotion tied to the team missing playoffs for two consecutive seasons, particularly after having such high hopes and significant payrolls. Fans seem to be voicing their frustrations towards the struggling president of baseball operations, David Stearns, especially after his efforts to replace Alonso with Jorge Polanco backfired.

This has cultivated, as Manaea put it, a “crazy” atmosphere at Citi Field, with the series finale set for Wednesday night.

During the Mets’ 2-1 loss on Monday, fans booed when young pitcher Jonah Tong walked Alonso early in the game.

Some even started leaving after Alonso’s eighth-inning at-bat, even though it was a tight, one-run game.

On Tuesday, the crowd went wild when Kodai Senga threw an 82-mph forkball, and Alonso hit it out of the park, tying the game at 3-3.

This home run marked Alonso’s 124th at Citi Field, and even one broadcaster commented that “that’s what the fans came to see.”

Supporters chanted “Pete Alonso” and he received a curtain call, a gesture usually reserved for spectacular performances by home players.

Yet shortly after, the crowd’s chants shifted to “Fire Stearns.”

“Pete’s not here anymore,” Manaea noted, having pitched well but receiving a no-decision due to Alonso’s heroics. “Everyone loves him. He’s amazing. But he’s not on our team. To see fans react like that—it’s just different.”

Alonso, reflecting on the warm reception, expressed gratitude for the support from Mets fans during this milestone.

“Everyone in the dugout was urging me to go out there, and they were right,” Alonso said regarding his curtain call. “I’m thankful for all the support. I’ve spent a lot of my life here, and I appreciate that. It’s definitely a two-way street.”

While Manaea conveyed some frustration over the crowd’s response, he clarified that his feelings weren’t aimed at Alonso personally.

“I played alongside Pete for a couple of years. I know how much he means to this organization and the city. He’s an exceptional player, and I have a lot of admiration for him. It’s unfortunate he’s no longer with the Mets, and I’m really happy for him reaching 300 home runs. It’s just crazy how everything transpired.”