Despite a 9-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves, Mets rookie slugger Pete Alonso still had reason to smile as he tied the franchise's single-season home run record with his 41st of the year on Saturday at Citi Field.
Alonso crushed a three-run shot that put the Mets in front of the Braves for a brief time, 5-4, in the fifth inning.
He's is now tied with Carlos Beltran and Todd Hundley for the club's record. Those two had 41 dingers in 2006 and 1996, respectively.
"It's really hard to explain. It's nuts. The way that, as soon as the ball left the bat, I knew it, and the fans just went absolutely nuts. It's something you dream about as a kid. Surreal," Alonso said. "It was a hell of an environment tonight, I mean that moment was extremely special. I couldn't have dreamt it up any better."
Alonso's latest power-hitting record comes on the heels of him already setting a slew of franchise and league records this season. He recently set the National League home run record for rookies, which he's still adding to.
Despite the list of records just seemingly growing and growing, Alonso still has to pinch himself sometimes that this is what his rookie season has become.
"It's every single day," Alonso said. "Seriously, I couldn't write it up any better."
The feeling in the Mets' dugout was much the same, starting pitcher Zack Wheeler said.
"I really don't get chills much, but that gave me the chills a little bit," Wheeler said.
Alonso will have a chance to take sole possession of the record on Sunday as the Mets and Braves wrap their three-game series in Flushing at 1:05 p.m.
