UPDATE: Yankees legend calls out Pete Alonso of the Mets, and Alonso responds with an impressive performance for all to see

Pete Alonso went 2 for 3 with a home run, three RBIs, and four runs scored, leading the Mets to a 12-6 victory.

During the MLB on FOX post-game show, Derek Jeter acknowledged Alonso as the player who needed to rise to the occasion. “It seemed like the entire lineup took your cue, and they could finally relax when you gave them the early advantage,” Jeter said. “Plus, the entire Citi Field crowd—Mets fans—were eager for you to deliver.”

With the New York Mets facing elimination in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series, how could they avoid ending their season at Citi Field on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers? For everyone, the solution was straightforward: produce more hits and issue fewer walks.

Early in Friday’s game, the Mets excelled in one area thanks to Pete Alonso’s three-run homer in the first inning, giving them a 3-0 lead. Coincidentally, during the “MLB on FOX” pregame show, Yankees legend Derek Jeter indirectly called out the Mets’ first baseman. “The story of this series is the Mets’ struggles to score,” Jeter stated while FOX displayed a graphic showcasing the top three players from each team.

The difference here is staggering. You have five home runs and 16 RBIs from Betts, Ohtani, and Muncy, while Lindor, Alonso, and Nimmo have managed just one home run and two RBIs between them. That needs to change if the Mets want to get back into this series… “Someone needs to deliver a big hit. It can’t all fall on Lindor and Vientos; others will have to step up. As I said, our role is to analyze, but they must score runs early. That’s their only shot; otherwise, this Dodgers offense is going to take control.” Alonso, who came into the game with just 2 hits in 15 at-bats in the series, responded emphatically with a 432-foot home run to center field that drove in Lindor and Nimmo. The Mets entered Game 5 having issued 31 walks—a record for four games—and stranded 35 runners. Overall, Lindor, Nimmo, and Alonso contributed eight hits and reached base 15 times, while Ohtani, Betts, and Muncy reached base 33 times collectively. Los Angeles answered with a run in the top of the second inning due to a wild pitch that allowed Kike Hernández, who had walked, to score.