Mets at Padres
Rookie Pete Alonso continues to make a good impression, and he will look to help the New York Mets claim the three-game series against the host San Diego Padres when it concludes on Wednesday afternoon. Alonso drilled the decisive two-run homer into the second deck in left field in the ninth inning on Tuesday as the Mets posted a 7-6 victory.
Alonzo went 3-for-5 with four RBIs as New York won for just the second time in seven games, and his 11th homer ties him for third in the National League. The Mets had scored just seven runs over their previous six games before breaking out Tuesday with 12 hits, including five doubles and Alonso's blast. Franmil Reyes hit his team-best 10th homer for the Padres and also recorded an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning before his team came up empty after loading the bases with one out. Eric Hosmer has gone 19-for-44 over his last 11 games while Manny Machado is 2-for-12 over his last three contests after hitting three homers in a two-game span.
TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Wilmer Font (1-0, 5.79 ERA) vs. Padres LH Matt Strahm (1-2, 3.03)
Font was acquired from Tampa Bay on Monday and will start in place of Steven Matz, who was scratched due to a forearm nerve issue. The 28-year-old Font will be making his sixth career start - five last season - and the Mets are expecting him to be able to throw between 70 and 80 pitches. Font, who is with his fifth major-league team, owns a 6.51 ERA over 37 career appearances.
Strahm recorded his first victory of the season in his last turn as he gave up two runs and eight hits over six innings against Atlanta. The 27-year-old has allowed fewer than three runs in each of his last five starts after being rocked for five in 2 2/3 frames against Arizona in his first outing. Strahm hasn't issued a walk in his last four starts and has registered 27 strikeouts against just five free passes in 32 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets 2B Robinson Cano went 4-for-5 on Tuesday, and his first-inning double was the 2,500th hit of his career.
2. San Diego rookie 3B Ty France hit his first major-league homer on Tuesday.
3. New York INF Jed Lowrie (knee), who was signed as a free agent in the offseason, is expected to make his club debut this weekend.