Brandon Young was taxed with starting what was perhaps always going to be the most emotionally charged game of the season for the Baltimore Orioles. Pete Alonso returning as a visitor to play AGAINST the NY Mets was always circled on the calendar. This by both teams. Young’s line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 6 K.
New York, the NL version of them at least, showed out for Alonso. Honestly, I’ve never seen such an outpouring of love for a returning player. We this all the time – players returning to where they had began their careers and were still well thought of – all the time. Never have I seen such an outpouring of admiration as we saw. From NY Mets’ fans this evening towards Pete Alonso.
And mind you, Alonso sits on 299 career home runs. He didn’t get his 500th HR tonight. But there’s two games left. And odds are it’s on both his and the fans’ radar. Again, I can’t stress enough the class that New York fans showed in the moment. Pete Alonso was truly a beloved player in Queens. And it was on display tonight.
Heston Kjerstad’s RBI-single in the second gave the Birds a 1-0 lead. That lasted until the fourth when Ewing’s solo home run dunked the O’s out of the lead, tying the game at two. (And yes, you see what I did there!) That tied the game, and we played on.
Gunnar Henderson smacked a solo homer in the eighth, which in essence won the game for the Orioles. The Birds continued to record outs on defense, which is exactly what you want in that circumstance. And the O’s went home, 2-1 winners.
The series continues tomorrow at Citi Field. Shane Baz gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Shawn Manaea. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 