FLUSHING, NY — New York Mets’ catcher Francisco Alvarez was struggling mightily at the plate before he launched a 421-foot walk-off home run Monday night at Citi Field to beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3. The Venezuelan native was up 3-0 in the count against Orioles’ reliever Seranthony Domínguez and got a 98 mph fastball that was up and in, and smacked it 106.5 mph.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza gave Alvarez the green light and he took full advantage. Francisco Lindor went wild and ran halfway up the first base line with Alvarez. It was a no doubt home run that sent Alvarez, and the Citi Field faithful into a frenzy, as OMG was blasted in the stadium.
Francisco Alvarez electrifies Citi Field on his walk-off blast Monday night against the O’s – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports
Alvarez went three weeks without hitting a home run and that was just his sixth of the season in 217 at-bats. To say Alvarez needed that was an understatement. Mendoza echoed that sentiment in his post game press conference.
“The at bats have been better but we weren’t seeing the results in games, but when you have a guy like that hitting well at the bottom of your lineup it’s huge,” Mendoza said. “And to hit a ball like that it can definitely get a hitter going again.
This could spark a strong end of the season for Alvarez, as he tries to help push the Mets into the postseason. New York currently trails their National League East rivals the Atlanta Braves by 1.5 games for the final Wild Card spot in the NL. This loss for the Orioles also temporarily dropped them a .5 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East.
Gunnar Henderson, Ryan Mountcastle, Jackson Holliday, and the O’s, stands 73-53 – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports
Alvarez has 28 RBI and a slash line of .253/.318/.410 this season. His OPS of .728 is eight points above league average with an OPS+ of 108. The 22-year-old, who was named a finalist for the 2023 NL LatinoMVP ROTY award, missed nearly two months with a left thumb sprain suffered on April 19.
Last season, he showed much better power with 25 home runs in 382 at-bats. Alvarez got called up to the Mets late in 2022 and his defense has improved rep by rep. In 63 games behind the dish, Alvarez only has four passed balls and a fielding percentage of .993.
Francisco Alvarez, a major leader for the Mets pitching staff at 22-years-old – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
If the Mets are going to run down the Braves, they will need the best offensive version of Alvarez.
Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content
Instagram: @latinosportsoficial
Facebook: Latino Sports
Twitter: @latinosports
