Pending free agent Pete Alonso extending his Mets tenure with every postseason homer

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso has been doing everything in his power — quite literally — to keep playing for the New York Mets.

Poised to become an attractive free agent next month, the big slugger is an enormous reason the wild-card Mets are still marching along this October. With three home runs in a span of four playoff games, Alonso has helped New York reach the National League Championship Series for the first time in nine years.

“Yes, it’s high-pressure situations — but this is the most fun baseball I’ve ever played in my life. There’s nothing like this,” Alonso said Wednesday.

“Whether it’s win or lose, I’m ready for another one. This has been just a blast. We’ve been on such an amazing ride. After every game, yeah, I’m tired, but it’s like I can’t wait to show up to the yard tomorrow.”

In a sense, tomorrow has been the question trailing Alonso all season. Drafted by the Mets in 2016 out of college at Florida, the first baseman has spent his entire professional career with the organization and already ranks third on the team list with 226 home runs in six major league seasons.

One of the most popular hitters in franchise history, the Polar Bear is almost sure to pass David Wright (242) and Darryl Strawberry (252) soon — if he remains in a Mets uniform next year.

A four-time All-Star and the 2019 NL Rookie of the Year, Alonso is represented by agent Scott Boras, who likes to test the market with high-profile clients.

But whether these are his final weeks with the Mets or not, Alonso is making the most of this unexpected run.

He went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk Wednesday as New York beat Philadelphia 4-1 on Francisco Lindor's sixth-inning grand slam in Game 4 of their Division Series. With that, the Mets finished off the rival Phillies 3-1 in the best-of-five set to clinch a postseason series at home for the first time since the 2000 NLCS.

“This is what you work all offseason for. This is what spring training and the regular season is all about. This is euphoric,” Alonso said.

On deck, the Mets will begin the best-of-seven NLCS on Sunday in San Diego or Los Angeles. The Padres and Dodgers are tied 2-all heading into a deciding Game 5 in their NLDS on Friday.

New York is chasing its third World Series championship and first since 1986.

Back on Sept. 22, the Mets played their last home game of the regular season. At that point, it was no sure thing they'd wrap up a playoff berth on the ensuing road trip — or last long enough in the postseason to return. And so Alonso received several standing ovations from the sellout crowd and doffed his helmet when reminded by plate umpire John Libka in the first inning.

“POLAR BEAR PLEASE STAY” and “SAVE THE POLAR BEAR” read a pair of hand-held signs in the stands.

Before getting to all that, though, Alonso and the Mets intend to keep playing deep into October.

His go-ahead homer in the ninth inning last week at Milwaukee saved New York’s season in the Wild Card Series clincher. Alonso went deep in a Game 2 defeat at Philadelphia and then again early in Game 3 to spark a 7-2 victory Tuesday at home.

“We’re in a really good position, but we’ve got to capitalize,” he said before Game 4 against the Phillies.

All three of his postseason home runs were hit to the opposite field — Alonso went the other way to right on only four of his 34 homers during the regular season.

“I think it’s the timing, that’s where it starts. When he’s on time, it allows him to make some better swing decisions,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, “and it’s going to allow him to get the barrel on the ball. When he does that, we know he’s one of the best power hitters in the game. It doesn’t matter (where) they pitch him because he’s got that ability.”

Staying patient at the plate, Alonso also drew six walks — several in the middle of rallies — while compiling a 1.069 OPS and six RBIs through New York’s first six playoff games. He hit .240 with 88 RBIs and a .788 OPS during the regular season.

“I just want to stay locked in and focus. Because every day is a different story, every at-bat is different,” Alonso said. “I mean, you can want to force things, but I’m just going to continue to stay within my approach and let the game come to me.”

His music, too.

Prior to Game 3, the slugger switched his walk-up song to “American Pie” by Don McLean.

“Why not? It’s a good song,” Alonso said with a smile. “I was kind of listening to it, it came up on shuffle. I’m like, Oh, this would be sick. Yeah, this could be really fun, and it was.”

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New York Mets' Pete Alonso reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the ninth inning of Game 3 of a National League wild card baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso celebrates his three-run home run with Luisangel Acuña during the ninth inning of Game 3 of a National League wild card baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso hits a three-run home run during the ninth inning of Game 3 of a National League wild card baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso hits a three-run home run during the ninth inning of Game 3 of a National League wild card baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso celebrates with teammates after winning Game 3 of a National League wild card baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Mets won 4-2. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

New York Mets' J.D. Martinez and Pete Alonso celebrate after winning Game 3 of a National League wild card baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Mets won 4-2. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso celebrates after winning Game 3 of a National League wild card baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Mets won 4-2. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Philadelphia Phillies' Brandon Marsh is out at first as New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso catches the throw from third baseman Mark Vientos during the seventh inning in Game 1 of baseball's National League Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the ninth inning of Game 3 of a National League wild card baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso follows the flight of the ball after hitting a run scoring sacrifice fly off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm during the eighth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso follows through after hitting a home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher José Ruiz during the sixth inning of Game 2 of a baseball NL Division Series, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso hits a home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher José Ruiz during the sixth inning of Game 2 of a baseball NL Division Series, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo (9) celebrates with Pete Alonso after hitting a home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering during the seventh inning of Game 2 of a baseball NL Division Series, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso speaks during a news conference before National League Division Series Game 4 at Citi Field in New York on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ron Blum)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso reacts after hitting a home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher José Ruiz during the sixth inning of Game 2 of a baseball NL Division Series, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso (20) celebrates with Harrison Bader (44) after hitting a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso (20) tosses his bat as he watches his solo home run sail over the right field wall against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets Pete Alonso (20) connects for a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball playoff series, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso celebrates after the Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the National League baseball playoff series, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso celebrates in the locker room after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the National League baseball playoff series, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Despite economic successes, Lithuania’s center-right coalition could be replaced by the opposition Social Democrats and smaller center-left parties when voters in the Baltic country go to the polls on Sunday.

Strict COVID-19 measures and a migration influx from neighboring Belarus have cast shadows over conservative Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė's government, which took office in 2020.

Although European Union member Lithuania has seen annual double-digit personal income growth and has one of the lowest inflation rates in the 27'nation bloc, most voters don't seem to be impressed by these factors.

“The situation in the economy is far better than for example during the hardships of 2008-2010, but people rarely attribute the gain in personal wealth to the political leadership” said Nerijus Mačiulis, an economist at Swedbank. He referred to the global financial crisis, which hit the Baltic states hard and led to austerity measures.

Rima Urbonaitė, a political analyst at Vilnius’ Mykolas Romeris University, agreed.

“There’s a lot of disappointment and discontent among voters," she said. “It is related to numerous crises and shocks and cannot be compensated by economic factors like positive change in purchasing power.”

Šimonytė has faced criticism for strict measures during the pandemic, with many complaining that her government didn’t do enough to help companies during lockdown. And others say thousands didn't have proper access to health care services.

Šimonytė also has been lambasted for her handling of migrants arriving from Belarus. Lithuania has accused Belarus, its eastern neighbor, and Russia of orchestrating the influx.

A recent survey by pollster Vilmorus says that the Social Democratic Party, led by Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, would get 18% of the votes, while Šimonytė’s Homeland Union would get 9%. Nemuno Aušra, a newly registered party of right-wing politician Remigijus Žemaitaitis, who was impeached earlier this year for making antisemitic statements, would come in at 12%.

The poll, commissioned by the Lietuvos Rytas daily and based on about 1,000 interviews, was published Oct. 4. The margin of error was 3.1 percentage points.

The Social Democrats have ruled out an alliance with Žemaitaitis’ party, meaning that three or four parties, likely small groups representing the political center, will be necessary to form a governing coalition.

“I was voting for the conservatives for my entire life, but this year I'm thinking of giving my ballot to another good party, not to them," said Darius Mikalauskas, a 51-year-old teacher in Vilnius. "Šimonytė and the entire Homeland Union looks battered, worn out and they would better spend some time on the spare bench.”

A shift to the left wouldn't bring significant changes to the foreign policy of Lithuania, which also borders Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave to the west and Belarus to the east, analysts say. But the vote comes at a time when Russia’s war in Ukraine is fueling greater fears about Moscow’s intentions, particularly in the strategically important Baltic region.

“In this country, the foreign policy course is determined mainly by the president,” Urbonaite said, adding that “trading one minister with another would not mean significant change in its political course.”

Earlier this year, President Gitanas Nauseda beat Šimonytė in the presidential election and won a second five-year term. Despite widespread criticism and decreasing popularity, the ruling party also won a majority of seats in the European Parliament election.

In 2020, the southernmost Baltic country of nearly 3 million saw Šimonytė take her Homeland Union to victory in the parliamentary election. She later formed a coalition with two liberal parties, the Freedom Party and the Liberal Movement.

Four years later, Lithuanians return to the polling stations for a first round.

About 2.4 million people are eligible to elect 141 members of the parliament, or Seimas, for a four-year term in two rounds. On Sunday, 70 lawmakers will be elected by party lists joined by those in single-mandate constituencies who manage to win more than 50% of votes. The runoff is Oct. 27, when the majority of single-member constituencies will vote to choose between the two leading candidates.

Local residents wait at a bus stop, with a poster displaying leader of the Social Democratic Party Vilija Blinkeviciute in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Leader of the Social Democratic Party Vilija Blinkeviciute speaks to the press at a polling station during the advance parliamentary elections in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Local residents vote at the polling station during the advance voting in the first round of a parliamentary election in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

A woman leaves the polling booth at the polling station during the advance voting in the first round of a parliamentary election in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

A man arrives at a polling station during the advance voting in the first round of a parliamentary election in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

A woman arrives at a polling station during the advance voting in the first round of a parliamentary election in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Women read a ballot paper at a polling station during the advance voting in the first round of a parliamentary election in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

A voter casts his ballot during the advance voting in the first round of a parliamentary election in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Freedom Party leader Ausrine Armonaite prepares to cast his ballot at a polling station during the advance voting in the first round of a parliamentary election in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Freedom Party leader Ausrine Armonaite speaks to the members of press at a polling station during the advance parliamentary elections in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Leader of the Social Democratic Party Vilija Blinkeviciute arrives at a polling station during the advance parliamentary elections in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Leader of the Social Democratic Party Vilija Blinkeviciute arrives at a polling station during the advance parliamentary elections in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

A voter casts his ballot during the advance voting in the first round of a parliamentary election in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Local residents fills their ballots at a polling station during the advance voting in the first round of a parliamentary election in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Voters queue at the polling station during the advance voting in the first round of a parliamentary election in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

FILE - Lithuania's Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte speaks during a news conference following his meeting with Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the government's headquarters in Vilnius, Lithuania, on March 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis, File)

FILE - A woman arrives at a polling station during the advance parliamentary elections in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis, File)

FILE - Lithuania's Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, a presidential candidate, casts her vote at a polling station during the advance presidential elections in Vilnius, Lithuania, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis, File)