Pete Alonso hit a game-tying homer off a struggling Aroldis Chapman to open the seventh inning and pinch hitter Jose Peraza hit a tiebreaking two-run double five batters later as the New York Mets beat the New York Yankees 10-5 in the opener of a seven-inning, day-night doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
In his first appearance since allowing the first grand slam of his career in Wednesday’s 11-8 loss to the Los Angeles, Chapman (5-3) was one strike away from retiring Alonso. After Alonso swung at a high fastball he reached for an 87.4 mph outside slider and blasted it over the left-center field into the visiting bullpen.
It was the fourth blown save for Chapman, who posted an 11.42 ERA in 11 June appearances. As Alonso hit his 14th homer, Chapman turned around, grimaced and put his hands over his head in disbelief.
After Alonso homered, Chapman hit Michael Conforto on the back with a 100 mph fastball and was booed off the mound by Yankee fans following a walk to Jeff McNeil. Pinch hitter Kevin Pillar lifted a single off Lucas Luetge to load the bases and, following the first out, Peraza lifted a 2-2 pitch over left fielder Tim Locastro’s head.
A fan wearing a Francisco Lindor jersey reached over and caught the ball and Peraza was awarded a two-run double that made it 7-5. Brandon Nimmo followed with a two-run single for a 9-5 lead, took second on a throwing error by right fielder Aaron Judge and scored the 10th run on Lindor’s single.
The loss sent the Yankees to the .500 mark at 41-41 and handed them their seventh loss in eight games since June 24.
Before the six-run seventh, the Mets rallied from a 4-1 deficit by knocking out Gerrit Cole in the fourth. Tomas Nido, Nimmo and Lindor hit RBI singles in the fourth. The Yankees took a 5-4 after DJ LeMahieu scored on a wild pitch by Marcus Stroman in the fifth.
Cole was charged with four runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings in the third-shortest outing of his career.
Dominic Smith homered off Cole three batters into the game before the Mets strung together their first rally.
Kyle Higashioka hit a two-run double and Locastro lifted a sacrifice fly in the second frame for the Yankees, who later got their fourth run on a double-play grounder by Giancarlo Stanton.
Stroman allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits in five innings. Jeurys Famila (3-1) pitched the sixth and Seth Lugo finished up.
–Field Level Media