Alonso's go-ahead single lifts Mets to 2-1 win and 1st sweep of Blue Jays since 2001

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso hit a go-ahead single in the third inning and the New York Mets beat Toronto 2-1 on Sunday for their first series sweep of the Blue Jays in 24 years.

New York extended its winning streak to four by taking three in a row from the Blue Jays. The Mets had last swept Toronto from July 15-17, 2001, at Shea Stadium.

Bowden Francis (1-1) walked rookie Hayden Senger and Juan Soto in the third, Alonso singled and Brandon Nimmo followed with a sacrifice fly. Alonso has 11 RBIs this season.

David Peterson, Max Kranick (1-0), Reed Garrett, A.J. Minter and Edwin Díaz combined on a four-hitter against the Blue Jays, who went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position and scored three runs in the series. A day after getting his first win this season, Díaz earned his second save.

Feeling nauseous on the mound, Peterson grimaced after walking Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a full-count curveball in the fifth.

After a visit from an athletic trainer, Peterson loaded the bases with a walk to Anthony Santander, then forced in a run when he hit Andrés Giménez with a pitch. Kranick relieved and retired Alejandro Kirk on a foul pop.

Kranick (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings and has retired 21 of 22 batters this season. He got his first big league win since Sept. 26, 2021, for Pittsburgh at Philadelphia.

Francis gave up two runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Mets catcher Luis Torrens missed his second straight start because of a bruised right forearm.

Díaz hit Alan Roden with a pitch starting the ninth and Bo Bichette with two outs, then got Guerrero to bounce into a forceout on a slider, his first pitch.

Brett Baty struck out against Toronto reliever Chad Green in the sixth, dropping to 1 for 17 with the bases loaded in his big league career and 2 for 21 overall this season.

Blue Jays RHP José Berríos (0-1, 6.75 ERA) pitches Monday night at Boston.

Mets RHP Kodai Senga (0-1, 3.60) starts the opener of a three-game series against Miami. RHP Sandy Alcantara was supposed to start for the Marlins on Sunday at Atlanta, but the game was rained out and the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner is likely to go on the paternity list Monday.

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New York Mets second baseman Brett Baty waits to turn a double play during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets second baseman Brett Baty, left, turns a double play over Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Toronto Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman reacts after hitting a double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets' Juan Soto leans away from an inside pitch during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets' Juan Soto reacts after hitting a double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets pitcher Max Kranick throws during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Friday, April 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso looks after an RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso, left, celebrates his RBI single with first base coach Antoan Richardson during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)