NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso returned to Citi Field on Monday night with the Baltimore Orioles on the verge of his 300th home run, likely to receive a warm reception from New York Mets fans.
“So many good memories here — I played with so many good people, talented people,” Alonso said. “It’s going to be interesting to see what emotions kind of bubble up, because you never can anticipate things that happen.”
Alonso entered Monday hitting .269 with 35 homers, an AL-high 100 RBIs and an .863 OPS for the last-place Orioles. He had a 4.1 fWAR while his Mets replacements were at minus-0.4.
He left the Mets after the 2025 season as a free agent to sign a $155 million, five-year contract with Baltimore. New York, which didn't push to re-sign him, began the night on the verge of postseason elimination.
“I respect their decision — the guys running the team, it’s their prerogative to do whatever they think is best for them,” Alonso said. “Two things can be true at the same time: I’m very happy and appreciative of my time I spent as a Met and I’m beyond grateful and appreciative for the Baltimore Orioles.”
Fans sporting Alonso’s old No. 20 with the Mets cheered and chanted his name during batting practice. Alonso exchanged greetings with former teammate Jose Iglesias as well as Mets owner Steve Cohen and his wife, Alex.
The Mets made the playoffs twice with Alonso. He was drafted by the Mets and hit a team record 264 homers, topping Darryl Strawberry,
“I appreciate all the support and people keeping up,” Alonso, said. “I care so much about leaving it all on the field, pouring all the emotion I have and emptying the tank every night. And I’m glad that people appreciated that.”
Alonso entered Monday with 299 career homers, the same number as friend and former teammate Francisco Lindor. According to the Elisa Sports Bureau, Alonso could become just the third player to his 300th career homer against a team for whom he played in 1,000 or more games.
Willie Horton hit his 300th career homer against the Detroit Tigers in 1979 while Torii Hunter did so for the Tigers against the Minnesota Twins in 2013.
“I know ‘Paco’ is chasing down that same milestone, so it’d be really cool if both of us could do it in the same game,” Alonso said. “That’d really be sick.”
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Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso cracks his bat on a foul ball during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
LEEDS, England (AP) — Three goals in a 13-minute spell before half time — two featuring the commanding Dominic Calvert-Lewin — set Leeds on the way to a comprehensive 4-1 win over Newcastle to move into third place in the Premier League on Monday.
Ao Tanaka’s deflected shot put Leeds ahead after 32 minutes and then man of the match Calvert-Lewin moved into top gear.
The big striker has a great record of scoring against Newcastle and had also hit the net in all of Leeds' last five home matches.
Calvert-Lewin was unlucky to see a 34th-minute header marked down as an own goal after brushing the head of teammate Jayden Bogle on the way in. But there was no mistaking his authorship of the third, which squirmed under the keeper after he poked it goalward under pressure from defenders.
“He is in outstanding shape and plays with confidence,” Leeds coach Daniel Farke said of his No. 9. "I expect him to lead the group and he has taken that responsibility. I never doubt his goals but it isn’t just his goals, it is the way he plays for us. It is outstanding and he’s one of the standout strikers in this league.”
The Leeds forward line was helped by Newcastle’s atrocious defending and another weak clearance led to a fourth goal after 59 minutes, Noah Okafor slapping his low strike through a sea of legs into the far corner.
The only bright spot for the visitor came in the final minute when substitute Bazoumana Touré scored a consolation goal.
“That is football, that is the Premier League," said Newcastle coach Matthias Jaissle. “You have to bring the fundamentals on the pitch, especially against a physical and intense team like Leeds. We couldn’t match that physicality in the first half and that was a key element. I don’t want to search for excuses now, we need to learn out of it and do better.”
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Newcastle United's Aladji Bamba, left, and Leeds United's Sean Longstaff battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Newcastle United in Leeds, England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA via AP)
Leeds United's Noah Okafor, right, celebrates scoring their side's fourth goal with Dominic Calvert-Lewin during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Newcastle United in Leeds, England, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA via AP)
Leeds United's Dominic Calvert-Lewin, top, scores during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Newcastle United in Leeds, England, Monday Sept. 14, 2026. (Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA via AP)
Leeds United's Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Newcastle United in Leeds, England, Monday Sept. 14, 2026. (Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA via AP)
