Mets' Sean Manaea, More React to Fans' Cheers for Pete Alonso in Return, 'Crazy to Me'

New York Mets players were not exactly thrilled to hear the Citi Field crowd go wild when Pete Alonso hit a ninth-inning homer off Kodai Senga to tie the score in a game the Baltimore Orioles went on to win 7-5 in 11 innings.

Mets starter Sean Manaea told reporters after the game he understands fans in Queens feel strongly about Alonso, but their reaction to an opposing player hitting a homer was "crazy to me."

Orioles vs. Mets (09/15/2026)

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Playing in his first series at Citi Field as a visiting player, Alonso hit his 300th career home run in the stadium where he hit 123 long balls while playing for the Mets from 2019 to '25.

Alonso's reaction seemed to indicate he enjoyed the moment.

Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor said after Monday's game he was disappointed fans didn't give more appreciation to Jonah Tong, specifically after the rookie pitcher was booed for walking Alonso in the third inning.

"I think next time, they've got to give the pitcher a little more love, too," Lindor said.

Interim manager Andy Green told reporters the Mets need to not let external factors out of their control impact their performance on the field.

"People are free to do whatever they want to do on the field," Green said. "Our job is to never let anything external impact the way we go about playing the game. I think that's tough in certain circumstances. I think guys may struggle with that at times."

It's not a surprise Mets fans have had as much enthusiasm about Alonso's return as anything this season. There hasn't been a lot to cheer for in Queens with the team closing in on a last-place finish in the NL East for the first time since 2003.

The combined attendance of 63,097 at Citi Field for the first two games against the Orioles is the most for any two-game home stretch for the Mets since Aug. 18-19 against the San Diego Padres.