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Pete Alonso reveals what Mets’ gritty identity means after Pirates win
Image credit: ClutchPoints

The New York Mets delivered one of their most thrilling wins of the season Monday night, walking off the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 in dramatic fashion at Citi Field. But it was Pete Alonso’s postgame declaration that left the biggest impression, giving fans a glimpse into the identity driving New York’s recent surge in the NL East standings.

With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth, Francisco Lindor reached on an error and Juan Soto singled to set the stage. Alonso then lofted a deep fly ball to right field, allowing Lindor to tag and score the game-winning run. The walk-off sacrifice fly capped a chaotic night filled with errors, clutch hits, and narrow escapes.

After the win, Alonso caught up with SNY TV and praised the poise and grit of this 2025 Mets club.

“We don’t give up. We’re a scrappy bunch,” the first baseman told SNY TV, who later shared it to their X, formerly Twitter, account.

“I mean, yeah, we got guys who can drive the ball out of the yard. We got guys who can out up some good numbers offensively and hit the ball a long way and stuff like that. But at the end of the day, our identity is we’re just a scrappy team.”

The Mets vs. Pirates showdown had plenty of twists. Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil delivered key hits early, and David Peterson battled through adversity to keep the Mets close. A combination of gritty base running by Luisangel Acuña and stellar defense, including Nimmo robbing a home run that set the tone for a true team win.

With the victory, the Metropolitans improve to 27-15 and sit 2.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies atop the NL East standings. The Polar Bear continues to lead the way with a .318 average, nine homers, and 36 RBIs, numbers that speak to his MVP-caliber start.

This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. And as Alonso made clear, the Mets aren’t just contenders, they’re fighters to the last out.

This article first appeared on MLB on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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Another team joins Eugenio Suarez sweepstakes
MLB

Another team joins Eugenio Suarez sweepstakes

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WNBA legend Lisa Leslie had three words for Angel Reese
WNBA

WNBA legend Lisa Leslie had three words for Angel Reese

Now in her second WNBA season, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is averaging a league‑leading 12.5 rebounds along with 13.8 points, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. She recently returned from injury and immediately picked up where she left off, posting her 16th double‑double of the season (11 points, 11 rebounds) on Tuesday night even as her Chicago Sky fell, 91-68, to the Minnesota Lynx. Then, on Wednesday, Reese showcased her brand power on Instagram, posting a pregame photo dressed head‑to‑toe in Gucci with the caption, "Don’t worry about me… life is GUCCI @gucci #guccipartner." The image quickly lit up her feed and drew an immediate response from one of the game’s all‑time greats, WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, who commented, “Yessss it is❤️." Despite flashes of elite play, the Sky have struggled mightily, standing at just 7-17 and sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference. Their 76.7 points per game rank 12th in the WNBA, and opponents are torching them for 86.8 a night (12th in the league). With head coach Tyler Marsh searching for consistency, every bright spot has been a welcome reprieve for a franchise that won the title as recently as 2021. Front and center among Chicago’s bright spots is Reese. Off the court, Reese has quickly built a burgeoning portfolio of endorsement deals, including Reebok, Calvin Klein, Beats by Dre, Amazon and now Gucci, underscoring her status as one of the WNBA’s brightest personalities. On the other side, you have Leslie, whose voice carries more weight than arguably anybody in women’s basketball. A three‑time league MVP, two‑time WNBA champion and Finals MVP and eight‑time All‑Star, Leslie helped define the league’s early years with the Los Angeles Sparks, including driving home the first dunk in WNBA history in 2002. A Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer (class of 2015), she remains a global ambassador for the sport.

Green Bay Packers: Former 7th Rounder Has Only Solidified Depth Chart Status in Impressive Training Camp
NFL

Green Bay Packers: Former 7th Rounder Has Only Solidified Depth Chart Status in Impressive Training Camp

Three days of Green Bay Packers training camp are in the books and cornerback Carrington Valentine has reinforced his status as the default CB3. It’s only a minute sample size, of course, and the team hasn’t even moved to padded sessions yet. Nonetheless, it’s encouraging to see the former 232nd overall pick put down some roots in a cornerback group that will need meaningful contributions from a slew of less than household names. Carrington Valentine starts strong in Green Bay Packers training camp Writing for Packers Wire, Mark Oldacres observed that Valentine has already picked off a pair of passes in the early going. Stats don’t much much in training camp, but it’s a reflection of Valentine’s keyed-in performance thus far, which included matching up well with standout rookie receiver Matthew Golden. Each player has impressed so far in camp. The Packers are counting on Valentine to backup Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs on the depth chart, or take the field with them in nickelback formations. While he is still developing his overall tools, he already has a place on an NFL field due to his coverage skills. Says Oldacres, “Arguably Green Bay’s most gifted cover corner, Valentine is showing signs of hitting his upside in coverage specifically, although proving he is reliable enough in defending the run will still be crucial for him to truly become a full time player.” Valentine enjoyed a decent chunk of playing time last season as a sophomore, taking advantage of Jaire Alexander’s extended injury absence to amass 546 snaps. He notched the first two interceptions of his career and earned a PFF grade of 70.4, which ranked in the 80th percentile of qualified cornerbacks. With Alexander released and Eric Stokes leaving in free agency, Valentine will have an even greater opportunity in 2025. The players behind him on the depth chart are fringe reserves, draft picks, or ex-receivers (Bo Melton). The job behind Nixon and Hobbs is his to lose. If the latter hits the injured list again – Hobbs missed 17 games across his last three seasons in Las Vegas – Valentine could step into an elevated role. Promoting him naturally at some point, injuries or not, might not be such a bad thing. For his part, Oldacres is pretty high on Valentine’s potential. “Entering year three in the NFL and soon to turn 24, Valentine is probably the best bet to lift the ceiling of Green Bay’s cornerback group as a whole.”

Report: Mariners to stay in the mix for Eugenio Suarez despite recent trade
MLB

Report: Mariners to stay in the mix for Eugenio Suarez despite recent trade

The lead up to the MLB trade deadline is off and running, with the Seattle Mariners striking a move with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. Some might have expected Eugenio Suarez, a former Mariner, to be heading back to his old team. Instead, it was first baseman Josh Naylor who was shipped off to Seattle. However, that doesn't mean these two teams are done dealing. MLB.com's Daniel Kramer reported on X that "Eugenio Suarez is still Seattle’s top priority and being aggressively pursued by the Mariners." Suarez, on the back of an All-Star selection, is one of the hottest names on the market. With an eye-catching 36 home runs, good for second place in the National League, and 87 RBI, a bountiful number of MLB contenders are fighting for his services. Before his stint with Arizona, Suarez compiled two seasons' worth of monstrous home runs with the Mariners. A fan favorite, Mariners fans have been raving about the possibility of bringing him back. Despite their haste in acquiring Naylor, the chances of importing his teammate alongside him remain high. At 34 years old, Suarez is at his peak and would greatly improve the slugging of the playoff-hopeful Mariners. The third baseman would take the place of rookie Ben Williamson at the position. Williamson has performed valiantly, but his contact bat doesn't bring the same run-producing stature as Suarez. For a club that loves to hit home runs, Suarez would be the cherry on top. With the team currently ranked sixth in the MLB in home runs (144), the power-hitter would upgrade the Mariners into one of the best slugging lineups in the league. Coming at a high cost, the risk would be worth it. Pairing up Suarez with a lineup featuring multiple All-Stars in catcher Cal Raleigh, center fielder Julio Rodriguez and left fielder Randy Arozarena would be frightening. The high-octane lineup would give the Mariners something to rely on as they push for the playoffs. The Mariners are currently in vigorous pursuit of the injury-riddled Houston Astros, trailing the AL West leader by five games. Consistent offense has been difficult to come by for the Mariners, leading to some troubling losses. With a locked-and-loaded pitching rotation, the Mariners have no time to wait to bolster the offense. Adding Suarez may be the piece they need to unlock a giant-slaying squad. As we inch closer to the trade deadline, which takes place July 31 at 6 p.m. ET, be on the lookout for the Mariners to punch another deal with the Diamondbacks.

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