Early talks about the Mets’ offensive downfall were greatly exaggerated.
Behind a seven-run fifth inning, punctuated by a Pete Alonso grand slam, New York downed the Miami Marlins 10-4 in their series opener on Monday night at LoanDepot Park.
Alonso’s blast was one of four home runs hit by the Mets (2-2), who scored just five runs in their opening series against the Houston Astros. Starling Marte, Luis Torrens, and Brandon Nimmo also left the yard.
Marte’s solo home run in the top of the third inning canceled out Otto Lopez’s first-inning solo shot off Mets starter David Peterson, which was the start of a 10-0 scoring run by the visitors.
Against Marlins starter Cal Quantrill, Luisangel Acuna legged out an infield hit to lead off the big fifth inning and scored from first on a Jose Siri double. Marte was hit by a pitch and — with a lefty warming up in the pen — Quantrill was left in the game to walk Juan Soto to load the bases for Alonso.
The slugging first baseman worked the count full before going with an outside sinker and lifting it 400 feet to right-center field to give the Mets a 6-1 lead and burn first-year Marlins manager Clayton McCullough for keeping Quantrill in for too long. It was Alonso’s first home run of the season, which made him just the 15th player in franchise history to record four or more career grand slams.
Following a Mark Vientos walk, Torrens lucked into his first home run of the season on a deep fly ball to center field that was helped over the wall by the leaping glove of Miami’s Derek Hill to make it an 8-1 game. Torrens’ shot looked destined to hit the top of the wall had Hill’s glove not intervened.
Nimmo smacked the Mets’ fourth and final home run of the night in the top of the sixth, a two-run bomb to center field, to give the Mets a nine-run lead and Peterson a comfortable day at the office.
The southpaw went six innings and allowed two runs — both solo home runs — with nine strikeouts and three walks. Reliever Danny Young allowed two runs in the bottom of the ninth when he allowed four straight Marlins to reach safely after recording the first two outs of the frame on four pitches.
New York was without star shortstop Francisco Lindor on Monday night, who was left out of the lineup following the birth of his third child, but was still available off the bench.
