RBI Machine: Pete Alonso Notches His 91st of the Season

Despite the New York Mets falling short once again, Pete Alonso continues to provide a silver lining in what has become a frustrating stretch for the team. On Tuesday night at Citi Field, a near-capacity crowd of 39,895 turned out with hopes of witnessing Alonso tie the franchise’s all-time home run record. While the record-tying shot didn’t come, Alonso still added to his RBI tally, notching his 91st of the 2025 season, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s most prolific run producers.

Yet the milestone was bittersweet, as the Mets suffered a 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, marking their seventh defeat in the last eight games and raising questions about the team’s ability to stay in contention.

Alonso Inches Closer to Franchise History

Every time Alonso stepped into the batter’s box, the energy inside Citi Field crackled. Fans were eager to witness him tie Darryl Strawberry’s all-time Mets home run record of 252. Instead, Alonso added to his RBI total with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, helping the Mets take an early 1-0 lead. He went 1-for-3 on the night, but his power bat was kept in check, leaving him at 251 career home runs.

It was a quiet evening at the plate for the Mets as a whole. After Tyrone Taylor’s RBI single in the second inning, the offense disappeared. The Mets failed to get a hit after the fourth inning and were completely shut down over the final five innings, with 14 straight batters retired by Guardians pitching.

Guardians Flip the Script Late

Cleveland’s offense, meanwhile, bided its time and struck when it mattered. Mets starter Clay Holmes, making his 10th consecutive start of 5.1 innings or fewer, looked strong early. He retired the first nine Guardians batters and cruised through five innings on just 75 pitches. But in the fourth, Cleveland broke through, tying the game with a two-out RBI single by Gabriel Arias.

Despite Holmes feeling good, manager Carlos Mendoza opted for the bullpen in the sixth, hoping to leverage matchups against the heart of the Guardians’ order. That decision would prove costly.

In the seventh inning, new Mets reliever Tyler Rogers gave up the game-winning hit — a two-out RBI single by Steven Kwan — after allowing back-to-back singles by Brayan Rocchio and C.J. Kayfus. It was the first run Rogers had allowed in three appearances with the Mets since being acquired from the Giants before the trade deadline.

Mendoza defended his decision, saying, “We were set up with our bullpen guys, and we got the matchups we wanted. He’s a ground ball guy, and a couple of ground balls found holes.”

Pitching Decisions Under the Microscope

Mendoza’s bullpen management continues to raise eyebrows. While the Mets did bolster their bullpen at the trade deadline, the unit has been unreliable in recent weeks. Tuesday marked the fourth one-run loss in the Mets’ last eight games, all while the team’s offense struggles to produce late-game heroics.

Even so, Mendoza remained optimistic. “We’ve got to turn the page, obviously, because that was not good,” he said postgame.

Holmes, who has been on a tight leash despite his performances, expressed some disappointment in not getting a chance to go deeper. “I was feeling good. Obviously, it’s not really my call,” he said. “But I think all things considered, he felt like it was best to go to the ‘pen there.”

Offensive Slump Continues

One of the most concerning trends for the Mets is their inability to generate offense. After Juan Soto drew a one-out walk in the fifth, the team did not manage a single baserunner for the remainder of the game. Despite the Guardians missing star closer Emmanuel Clase, who is currently on paid leave due to a sports betting investigation, the Mets failed to capitalize.

Veteran outfielder Brandon Nimmo tried to keep spirits high. “You’re really, really close. You’re one hit away usually,” he said. “I really believe in this offense and this team. You’re going to have times where things are really tough, but you’ve got to just keep grinding.”

Standings and What’s Next

The loss drops the Mets to 63-51, placing them 2.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East. With the offense in a slump and the bullpen struggling to close tight games, the Mets are at a critical juncture in their season.

They’ll look to avoid a series sweep on Wednesday afternoon when David Peterson (7-4, 2.83 ERA) takes the mound against Cleveland’s Gavin Williams (6-4, 3.33 ERA).

A strong outing from Peterson and a breakout game at the plate could be the remedy the Mets need, especially with Alonso just one home run away from Mets immortality.

Conclusion: All Eyes Still on Alonso

While the result wasn’t what fans hoped for, Pete Alonso’s chase for history remains the highlight of a difficult stretch for the Mets. His 91 RBIs in early August speak volumes about his consistency and clutch hitting, even as the rest of the lineup struggles around him.

As long as Alonso keeps swinging, the Mets still have a chance to turn things around. But time is running out, and the team will need more than one man’s bat to right the ship.