Happy Tuesday, Camden Chatters!<\/p>\n
The Orioles got off to a good start last night in New York, getting a 2-1 win<\/a> over the Mets. In his return to Citi Field, Pete Alonso was hitless with a walk. You might forgive him if he was putting pressure on himself. Nearly 36,000 Mets fans showed up to welcome their former slugger back to town.<\/p>\n Before the game began, a Pete Alonso chant broke out in the stands. As he stepped to the plate in the top of the first inning, he received an ovation the likes of which I\u2019ve never seen for an opposing or returning player. The sound system blared Layla, which was Alonso\u2019s walk-up music in New York, as he was announced. The crowd rose to its feet and gave him a hero\u2019s welcome. Alonso waved his helmet to the crowd as fans waved back Alonso Mets jerseys and signs expressing their love.<\/p>\n It was emotional. Pete is ours now, and I\u2019m so glad he is. But I really felt for those Mets fans. The Mets organization showed no interest in bringing Alonso back when he reached free agency, even though it seemed clear that he would have stayed if they wanted him. I have felt a kinship with Mets fans over these recent years as their favorite team continues to bumble through the seasons. Last night, as they welcomed Alonso, I felt a bit like an intruder watching.<\/p>\n Alonso flew out in his first at-bat, and when Gunnar Henderson stepped into the box, the chants changed to \u201cFire Stearns!\u201d referencing Mets GM David Stearns, who let Alonso walk. And the cheering didn\u2019t stop there. They cheered for Alonso every time he came to the plate. In his second plate appearance, when he walked, I felt bad for starting pitcher Jonah Tong. His hometown team was cheering for the guy opposing him!<\/p>\n With the Orioles up 2-1 in the top of the ninth, Dylan Beavers struck out to end the inning and leave Alonso in the on-deck circle. It wasn\u2019t exactly Brady Anderson striking out to end the 2001 season with Cal Ripken on deck, but there was disappointment in the air.<\/p>\n When the game began, I learned that longtime Alonso teammate Francisco Lindor is also sitting on 299 home runs. I wouldn\u2019t hate it if they both hit #300 in the same game, as long as the Orioles won. Let\u2019s see that tonight, ok?<\/p>\n Pete Alonso is serenaded in return to Citi Field, then Orioles go on to beat Mets – The Baltimore Banner<\/a>
As always, Alonso said all the right things about coming to Baltimore. Even on a night when New York went crazy for him.<\/p>\n