Pete Alonso didn’t just dodge a bullet, as he said before Thursday’s 3-2 win over Arizona regarding his injured right hand, he delivered a bullet, as well.
After starting the game on the bench, nursing the effects of the 93 mph fastball that drilled him in the hand in Wednesday’s loss to the Dodgers, Alonso pinch hit for Brett Baty with one out in the bottom of the seventh, with the Mets trailing by a run, and ripped a double to left.
He ended up scoring the tying run on Francisco Lindor’s RBI single, as the Mets came away with a much-needed win after Alonso received good news on his hand.
Before the game, Alonso underwent a CT scan, which found just a bone bruise.
The first baseman went through hitting and fielding drills before the game and was told by the training staff that as long as he could tolerate the pain, he could play.
Following the game, Alonso said his hand didn’t hurt.
“It felt pretty normal in the cage,’’ Alonso said. “I felt as normal as I [could] after what happened.”
He acknowledged being concerned when he was first hit, saying, “I didn’t really know what to think.”
Carlos Mendoza said Alonso stopped by his office twice before the game after hitting in the cage to tell the manager he was available.
Alonso was even more pleased he was able to contribute in snapping a four-game losing streak.
“I was really happy with how everything responded,’’ Alonso said. “I feel very fortunate and lucky. I was happy to be able to impact the game in a positive manner.”
Alonso said he still needed treatment after the win, but he intended to be in the lineup again Friday.
He has a long history with injuries to and around his hands.
A broken bone in his hand from a drilling forced him out for six weeks as a minor leaguer in 2017.
He was hit by a pitch in 2021 that led to an injured list trip for what was termed a right hand sprain.
Last season he was forced to the bench with a bone bruise and sprain after a Charlie Morton fastball found his left wrist.
“Every time it happens, it’s really different because there’s a bunch of small bones, tissue, ligaments and nerves and stuff,” Alonso said. “As it happens, it all hurts, and you really don’t know until what the imaging tells you. And for me, I feel very fortunate. I feel very lucky. It could have been a lot worse.”
Without Alonso in the starting lineup, Mark Vientos moved across the diamond and got the start at first base while Baty played third.
The Mets’ only backup infielder was DJ Stewart, a natural outfielder who has gotten reps at first.
Once Alonso entered, Vientos went to third and Alonso remained at first.
