Carlos Mendoza Sends Pete Alonso Message After Mets' Loss to Red Sox

The New York Mets have dropped consecutive games and have slipped a half-game behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the top spot in the NL East. For Pete Alonso—a cornerstone of the Mets franchise and one of the game’s most feared sluggers—the last two nights have been a sobering reminder that even stars stumble. 

Through 176 at-bats, Alonso owns a .965 OPS with nine home runs and 37 RBIs, anchoring the middle of the lineup with the kind of offensive consistency that teams build playoff hopes around. But defensively, it has been a different story of late for New York’s first baseman.

On Sunday, with the Mets and Yankees deadlocked in the final game of the Subway Series, Alonso fielded a chopper from Jorbit Vivas and tried to cut down Jasson Domínguez at the plate. The throw was wide and go-ahead run scored. This helped ignite a six-run frame for the Yankees.

One night later Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran rolled a soft ground ball to first. Alonso charged, gloved the ball cleanly, and attempted a routine flip to Kodai Senga covering the bag. Instead, the throw sailed past the pitcher, allowing Duran to reach second and eventually score. The Mets lost 3-1.

Pete Alonso showed frustration in the dugout after a throwing error in the 4th inning pic.twitter.com/h7i9fTdrtG

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 20, 2025

The consecutive errors weren’t just uncharacteristic—they were jarring. Alonso, known for his alertness and smooth transitions, rarely lets mental lapses dictate his defense. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza didn’t mince words when asked postgame about Alonso’s defense.

“It’s kind of weird to see—especially on some of the routine plays where you just have to flip the ball,” he said. “Maybe thinking too much about it. When they’re struggling offensively, they go through stretches defensively too, I feel like. Especially when it comes to finishing the play—like after catching the ball, just flipping it to the pitcher.”

After Monday night’s miscue, Alonso’s frustration boiled over in the dugout, where he was seen slamming his glove with visible anger. In New York, there’s no hiding from the spotlight. But the beauty of baseball is in the daily opportunities.

The Mets return to Fenway Park Tuesday night with a first pitch set for 6:45 PM ET. For Alonso, it will serve as another opportunity to contribute on both sides of the ball.

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