Alonso’s 40th home run lifts Orioles to 4-3 win over Blue Jays

BALTIMORE—While Pete Alonso hoped the Orioles would have had a much better record, it’s hard to imagine a more personally satisfying one for him.

After signing a five-year, $155 million contract, Alonso, who started slowly and had just four home runs through April, hit two on Monday night, pushing him to 40, and gave the Orioles a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays before 12,067 at Camden Yards.

After hitting his 39^th homer in the first against Toronto starter Trey Yesavage, Alonso’s two-run shot in the eighth inning off Tyler Rogers (2-3) put the Orioles ahead, 4-3.

Alonso drove in pinch-hitter Christian Franklin, who drew a leadoff walk against Mason Fluharty.

“It’s a nice number,” Alonso said. “It feels great. But I’m just really happy I was able to come through right there. You know, I’m just really happy I was able to contribute to a win, and that’s really what it’s all about.

“I’m just so happy I was able to contribute and come through against a really tough pitcher, one of the best relievers in the league. Former teammate, and again, he’s nasty, and I’m just really happy I was able to come through right there.”

Orioles have hit 40 home runs 10 times in their history. Nine players have done it. It’s the fourth 40-home run season for Alonso, who had his first three with the New York Mets.

Gunnar Henderson hit his 24^th home run in the sixth.

The win kept the Orioles’ faint playoff hopes alive. They’re 76-81 and trail the Chicago White Sox by 4 ½ games and can be eliminated on Tuesday if they lose and the White Sox win.

“I know where we’re with the standings, but couldn’t be more proud to be an Oriole, and this group, this organization, this city, just beyond appreciative to be a part of it,” Alonso said. “I’m really excited for not just the remaining few games of the season, but I’m excited for what we have coming down the pipe.”

Chicago didn’t play on Monday.

The first home run broke a 19-inning scoreless streak for the Orioles.

Toronto (77-80) scored three runs against Shane Baz in the first and didn’t score again.

Baz walked Brett Bateman, who later left the game with a right hip injury, and Alejandro Kirk to start the game. Nathan Lukes’ single scored Bateman. George Springer’s single scored Kirk, and Sean Keys’ sacrifice fly brought in Lukes for a 3-0 lead.

Yennier Cano (4-3) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Rico Garcia recorded his 10^th save with a scoreless ninth.

Samuel Basallo left the game in the sixth inning, an inning after he was hit on the mask by a foul ball off Kirk’s bat.

“He’s getting looked at right now,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “I haven’t seen a foul tip like that square a catcher up in a long time, and he felt fine. The thing is, with that, the concussions, sometimes that happens later on. When he went back out to catch the next inning, he was flinching on some balls, and I didn’t feel comfortable with him staying in there and flinching. So he’s getting looked at now, just to double and triple check, make sure he’s OK.”

The game began after a 47-minute rain delay.

What is it like being around Alonso? “It’s ridiculous,” Baz said. “I mean, he’s just one of the most consistent players I’ve ever seen, and I feel like that’s kind of the name of the game in the big leagues, is just being as consistent as possible.

“Kind of the work that you put in, it shows. And he’s a perfect case of that, where he just shows up every day, same attitude, gets his work in no matter what. Both sides of the ball — offense, defense. You know, he made some great plays for me tonight, too. No, he’s just been a lot of fun. Great dude. I can’t really say enough good things about him.”

Albernaz said Alonso has been great to be around.

“He exceeded my expectations, just the off the field what he brings because I didn’t really know him, know him, but now just being around him every single day, that’s been the most impressive thing,” Albernaz said. “Obviously, his baseball card, his accolades, the track record is there. Hitting 40 home runs and having over 100 RBIs in this league is really impressive and the consistency he does it, that doesn’t happen by accident. Just all the work he puts in behind the scenes.”

How did Baz hang in there? Baz walked Bateman on a pitch clock violation, and that wasn’t a great beginning.

“Giving up the three runs, he did a great job of settling in,” Albernaz said. “He got a really good feel for his curveball as the game went on, mixing the changeup and then the fastball was getting to the right spots after that. For him to pitch into the seventh after that first [inning] was impressive. Baz has been doing that all year, and it’s great that the boys picked him up. Obviously, it’s been well-documented the lack of run support for him, so it was great for him today.”

Baz said after the first inning, he knew he couldn’t fold.

“You can kind of go one of two ways,” he said. “You can either be a, you know what, or you can kind of get territorial and just kind of try and take control of the game and, you know, not let what happened those first four or five at-bats dictate the rest of the game. And I think I did a good job of that. And, you know, the defense was great. You know, it’s a good lineup. They just try to put the ball in play, and, you know, they did a good job of that tonight.” 

What does it mean? Alonso’s achievement is a nice distraction in a difficult season.

What’s the stat of the day? 9. Alonso joins Chris Davis, Brady Anderson, Frank Robinson, Jim Gentile, Mark Trumbo, Nelson Cruz, Rafael Palmeiro and Anthony Santander as the only Orioles to hit 40 or more home runs. Davis, who holds the single-season record with 53 in 2013, did it twice.

What’s the word? “Just the preparation you do before the game, not get so hung up on the results and sticking with the process, making adjustments, being prepared for the game, and Pete embodies that to a T.”-Albernaz on Alonso.

What’s next? Chris Bassitt (8-5, 4.64) will start against Max Scherzer (3-8, 6.07) on Tuesday night at 6:45.

Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com