Alonso hits MLB-best 19th HR, Carrasco gets 1st win as Mets rout Cubs 10-1 to avoid sweep
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 25: Dansby Swanson #7 of the Chicago Cubs hits a solo home run in the first inning against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field on May 25, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO - Pete Alonso launched his major league-leading 19th home run and Carlos Carrasco earned his first win this season as the New York Mets routed the Chicago Cubs 10-1 on Thursday night to avoid a three-game sweep.
Brett Baty knocked in New York's first two runs and the Mets pounded out 15 hits on a chilly night at Wrigley Field to ruin Kyle Hendricks' season debut for the Cubs in his return from a serious shoulder injury.
Jeff McNeil had three hits and scored three times. New York got four straight base hits with two outs in a three-run third inning and took a 4-1 lead on Starling Marte's two-run single.
Alonso added a two-run homer in the seventh and Brandon Nimmo laced a two-run triple in a three-run eighth.
Dansby Swanson homered in the first off Carrasco (1-2), who pitched 6 2/3 effective innings in his fifth start this year and second since missing about a month with an elbow injury. A 15-game winner in 2022, the veteran right-hander allowed five hits and struck out four with two walks in his longest outing of the season.
Back from a capsular tear in his right shoulder, Hendricks (0-1) made his first start since June 5 last year. He gave up five runs - three earned - and six hits in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked two.