Alonso hits grand slam, Lindor wins it in 10th, Mets beat Guardians 10-9

Updated May. 20, 2023 12:10 a.m. ET

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso tied the game with a grand slam in the seventh inning and Francisco Lindor won it with an RBI single in the 10th as the New York Mets rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat the Cleveland Guardians 10-9 on Friday night.

Gabriel Arias hit a two-run homer in the top of the 10th against Drew Smith (3-1) before Mets rookies Mark Vientos and Francisco Álvarez tied it with RBI singles in the bottom half against Emmanuel Clase (1-4).

Brandon Nimmo beat out an infield single before Lindor — facing the team for whom he played his first six big league seasons for the first time — singled past diving second baseman Andrés Gimenez, who was traded for Lindor prior to the 2021 season.

Lindor pointed toward the home dugout and spiked his helmet before rounding first base, turning around and getting swallowed up by a group of teammates led by another rookie, Brett Baty.

“It’s emotional to do it against anybody, but yeah, I wanted to win that game, 100 percent,” Lindor said. “I wanted it to be me. But just winning games is what counts and that’s what matters.”

The Mets climbed back to .500 at 23-23 after winning three straight, a run that began when they overcame a trio of late-inning deficits and Alonso hit a game-ending three-run homer in Wednesday night’s win over Tampa Bay.

“Starting to feel the guys are expecting something good to happen instead of something the other way,” manager Buck Showalter said. “We’ve had enough of the other side. It’s time they got some return.”

Josh Naylor had five RBIs for the Guardians and hit a three-run first-inning homer into a staircase alongside the first deck in right field to drop the Mets — who have been outscored 41-10 in the first inning this season — into another early hole.

New York has given up the first run in 13 straight games.

The Guardians extended the lead on RBI singles by Cam Gallagher and Amed Rosario before the Mets began their rally against Cal Quantrill in the fifth, when Álvarez homered and Jeff McNeil hit an RBI single. Baty led off the sixth with a homer.

“Give their lineup some credit,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said. “They can pop the ball out of the ballpark in a hurry.”

Naylor hit a two-run single in the seventh, but Sam Hentges — who got Álvarez to fly out on the first pitch as the potential tying run to end the sixth — allowed the first three batters to reach in the bottom half. James Karinchak fell into a 3-1 hole against Alonso before the slugging first baseman homered to right-center to make it 7-7.

“It was a tough one,” Francona said. “Sam came in, one pitch, one out and then he sat for a while.”

Alonso turned around as he rounded first, yelled and took a few steps backward while motioning to the home dugout following his third career grand slam. Despite battling flu-like symptoms, he has homered in four straight games, tying a career high set in 2019.

“Felt like crap for the past few days, but you know what? I don’t want that to be an excuse,” Alonso said. “I work hard and I prepare and I do whatever it takes to get ready for a ballgame.”

Quantrill gave up three runs and struck out a season-high six over 5 2/3 innings. Mets starter Carlos Carrasco surrendered five runs in five innings. Carrasco hadn’t pitched since April 15 due to right elbow inflammation.

REUNITED

The teams met for the first time since their trade on Jan. 7, 2021, when Cleveland sent Carrasco and Lindor to New York in exchange for Giménez, Rosario and minor leaguers Isaiah Greene and Josh Wolf.

“Both teams did well,” Showalter said. “That’s how most good trades do.”

NEW YORK TIME

The Mets recalled catcher former Yankees All-Star catcher Gary Sánchez from Triple-A Syracuse. He is the 154th player to play for both New York teams.

Sánchez hit .308 with one homer, five RBIs, nine walks and 10 strikeouts in eight games at Syracuse. The 30-year-old will likely split time with Álvarez.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Guardians: 3B José Ramirez returned from the bereavement list after missing the last three games. ... Naylor was limited to DH duties after returning from a left leg injury he suffered Tuesday night. ... RHP Peyton Battenfield (right shoulder stiffness) was placed on the IL and LHP Tim Herrin was recalled from Triple-A Columbus.

Mets: RHP José Quintana (left rib fracture) will throw off a mound Saturday for the first time since he was injured in spring training. ... Tim Locastro (thumb) was recalled from his rehab assignment and transferred to the 60-day injured list due to a sprained right thumb that will likely require surgery. Locastro was sidelined with back spasms. ... C Tomás Nido (dry eye syndrome) went 1-for-3 in his first rehab game for Class A St. Lucie. ... To make room for Carrasco, the Mets optioned LHP Josh Walker to Syracuse.

UP NEXT

Guardians RHP Tanner Bibee (1-1, 3.22 ERA) has allowed two runs or fewer in three of his first four big league starts. Mets RHP Max Scherzer (3-2, 4.88 ERA) won last Sunday in his return from an 11-day absence due to a sore neck.

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