Pete Alonso enjoyed his most productive day of a frustrating season to begin the Subway Series against the New York Yankees.
Coming off his big night, Alonso and the New York Mets will go for a sweep of the teams' two-game series Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.
The Mets lost 19 of 26 games in June when Alonso injured his wrist and batted .152 in 18 games. The Mets are 11-7 this month but still six games under .500 after recording a 9-3 win over the Yankees on Tuesday.
Alonso led the Mets on Tuesday by matching a season high with three hits and five RBIs, his most since Sept. 25. He homered twice and had an RBI single to improve to 9-for-19 in his past five contests following a 1-for-32 slide over his previous nine games.
"Every day is a new day and I'm just really happy that today was an excellent day," Alonso said. "Every game is important. It doesn't matter who's playing.
"Obviously Subway Series naturally is a big deal but it doesn't matter if we're playing the Yankees, the Red Sox or Nationals or whoever else because right now we're at a point of the season, all wins matter. It doesn't matter who's over there."
Not only will the Yankees try to prevent another big night from Alonso, but they will attempt to get better results at the plate. The Yankees are 5-10 over their past 15 contests and followed up a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals by going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranding 11 on Tuesday.
After Domingo German allowed three homers in the series opener, Carlos Rodon (0-3, 7.36 ERA) will make his fourth start as a Yankee since returning from a forearm and back injury that delayed his season debut until July 7. Rodon allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs but was shelled for a total of 10 runs in 9 1/3 innings in losses at the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Angels.
Rodon also struggled with command Wednesday when he allowed five walks in New York's 7-3 loss to the Angels. He also drew the ire of some Yankee supporters by blowing a kiss at a fan while walking off the mound after the second inning.
"I didn't really pay (any) mind to what exactly was said, but a fan was angry -- as they should be," Rodon said. "I'm angry, too. I was angry at myself and blew a kiss, unfortunately."
Rodon's only career start against the Mets occurred at Citi Field on April 20, 2022. He allowed three hits and struck out eight batters in five scoreless innings while pitching for the San Francisco Giants.
Left-hander Jose Quintana (0-1, 3.60) will make his second start with the Mets after returning from a rib injury he sustained during spring training.
Quintana allowed two runs on six hits in five innings during his season debut in Thursday's 6-2 loss to the visiting Chicago White Sox. None of those hits were homers and Quintana has not been taken deep in his past 66 2/3 innings -- the longest active streak in the majors.
Quintana is 3-2 with a 2.97 ERA in seven career games (six starts) against the Yankees. He earned the win July 5, 2022, when he allowed one run in five innings and struck out seven while pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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