Pete Alonso's Milestone Home Run Ignites Controversy at Citi Field

Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso hit his 300th career home run Tuesday night at Citi Field, a game-tying blast in the ninth inning that ultimately led to a 7-5 victory over the New York Mets.

The milestone achievement for Alonso, who played for the Mets before signing with the Orioles, was met with a curtain call from the home crowd. This gesture, typically reserved for beloved players, appeared to displease Mets pitcher Sean Manaea.

"As the 2026 Mets, I know we have definitely underperformed. But we are — the guys in here work their (tails) off every single day and to have that kind of reaction to an opposing player — could be anybody — is crazy to me," Manaea said after the game. "Again, I’ve got nothing but respect for Pete. But yeah, just never seen anything like that before. Pete’s not here. He’s just not here. So, I know everybody loves him. He’s the man. But, yeah, he’s not here. So, to see the reaction from the fans like that, I don’t know, it’s just different."

Alonso acknowledged the fans' support, stating, "I appreciate all the support for all the years I’ve been here, all the life I’ve lived here. Obviously, they’re recognizing that and they appreciate that. It’s a two-way street. Really appreciate it."

The home run served as a painful reminder for the Mets, who have had a disappointing season and are currently trailing the Washington Nationals by 2.5 games in the National League East standings. The Orioles improved to 74-78 on the year with the win, while the Mets fell to 69-82.

Alonso became the first player in MLB history to hit his 300th home run against a team for which he played 1,000 or more games. He also received a standing ovation before his first at-bat on Monday night during the series opener. Mets fans cheered for Alonso and even gave him a curtain call. It was clear Mets fans were acting defiantly as they lamented the front office’s decision to let Alonso walk in free agency last year. He said last September he "definitely thought about" re-signing with the Mets but he got an offer from the Orioles he couldn’t refuse.

Alonso's 300th home run off Mets pitcher Adrian Houser tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the ninth inning. Alonso then trotted around the bases after his bat flip. The Orioles secured the 7-5 victory in the bottom of the ninth.