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NY Post
New York Post
12 Jul 2023


NextImg:Pete Alonso’s nifty defensive play helps National League secure win

SEATTLE — The Mets’ biggest contribution to the All-Star Game came from Pete Alonso’s glove.

The first baseman made a nice pick to complete a double play, while his Mets teammate Kodai Senga opted against pitching in the National League’s 3-2 win over the American League at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday night.

Alonso entered in the seventh inning, when he struck out against the Tigers’ Michael Lorenzen. Alonso later also went down swinging against the Twins’ Pablo Lopez.

Though Alonso is far better known for his hitting, he showed off a fielding acumen that has improved tremendously since his early days as a Met.

With a runner on first and one out in the eighth inning and the NL leading 3-2, the Athletics’ Brent Rooker blasted a ball to third base.

The Braves’ Austin Riley made the catch and quickly threw to first.

Riley bounced the throw, making Alonso turn toward the outfield, but he smoothly made the pick to double up the Blue Jays’ Whit Merrifield, who had hit a leadoff single, at first.

“I take pride in all facets of my game — running the bases well, playing good defense and hitting the ball,” Alonso said after his third All-Star Game. “So that was really nice. Riles made a hell of a play over there, and I was just happy I was able to scoop him.”

Senga, who was a late addition to the roster, said the late notice for the game took him out of contention to pitch.

Pete Alonso makes a nice scoop to complete a double play against Whit Merrifield during the eighth inning of the NL’s 3-2 win over the AL in the MLB All-Star Game.
Getty Images

Plus, he is putting more value on his regular-season innings.

“A big goal of mine was to stay in the rotation throughout the whole, entire year without an injury,” Senga said through interpreter Hiro Fujiwara. “And that’s still my goal, and that’s what I’m trying to focus on the season.”

Senga said he hopes, though, to get chances to pitch in ensuing All-Star Games.

“I want to be the type of pitcher where other people, other players, say yeah, Senga’s definitely an All-Star,” Senga said.

One of the most enticing relievers potentially on the trade block does not want to be dealt.

Pirates closer David Bednar, who was selected to a second straight All-Star Game, but did not pitch, is often floated in trade rumors because he is a strong, controllable righty on a club that could sell at the deadline.

Pittsburgh was 20-9 at the end of April before quickly falling off a cliff, and Bednar hopes the club will return to contention before the trade deadline.

“It’s definitely frustrating, but more so just the fact that we’re not playing like we know we’re capable of. … We know that’s in the bag and we have that [in us],” Bednar said this week. “We are a good team, and we just need to start playing like that again and get that ball rolling.”

The Pirates entered the break 41-49, eight games back of a wild-card spot.

Bednar is a 28-year-old Pittsburgh native popular and enjoying life in his hometown.

He has tried to ignore the rumors that have swirled.

Pirates closer David Bednar hopes to remain in Pittsburgh and doesn't want to be traded before the deadline.

Pirates closer David Bednar hopes to remain in Pittsburgh and doesn’t want to be traded before the deadline.
Getty Images

“I love Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh’s the best,” said Bednar, who will be eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason. “I don’t think I can say it enough what it means to me and how much fun it is going to be when we win in Pittsburgh.”

Bednar logged 17 saves in the first half, in which he pitched to a 1.27 ERA with a 0.96 WHIP and 42 strikeouts in 35 ¹/₃ innings.

Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano left the game after five pitches with what AL manager Dusty Baker called tightness in his lower back.

NL manager Rob Thomson used an all-Braves infield in the fifth inning, with (from third to first) Riley, Orlando Arcia, Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson.

Senga walked the red carpet before the game wearing a white shirt underneath a gray jacket.

His look was less expressive than that of Mets teammate Starling Marte, who was an All-Star last year and showed off his body underneath his jacket.

Kodai Senga stands near Mrs. Met during the All-Star Game red carpet show.

Kodai Senga stands near Mrs. Met during the All-Star Game red carpet show.
AP

“We were actually talking about that last week,” Senga said. “Jeff McNeil was saying something like if you’re a Mets player and get selected for the All-Star team, you have to do that. And Jeff was like, but I think Pete’s got it down.”

Alonso could not get over the 41 homers the Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez hit Monday night to knocked the Mets star out of the Home Run Derby.

“He was spectacular,” Alonso said. “There’s a reason why that’s never been done in the Home Run Derby before.”