Pete Alonso is feeling great after his first multiple-homer game with the Baltimore Orioles.
He will look to bring the same big swings to Minnesota this week.
Alonso and the Orioles face the Minnesota Twins to open a three-game series in Minneapolis on Monday evening. Baltimore is looking for back-to-back victories after thumping the Texas Rangers 10-5 on Sunday afternoon.
The Orioles racked up 15 hits with Alonso going 3-for-3 with two homers and four RBIs.
The longtime New York Mets first baseman said he is feeling more at home in his first year with Baltimore than ever before, which could be bad news for opponents in the final two months of the season.
“There was a lot of change for me personally (when I signed here),” Alonso said. “New team, new staff, new game times, trying to be an athlete and be a dad for the first time in my career. So, again, there was a lot of new, and I just think with the newness, I just needed to kind of find a routine.
“But I feel like outside of April, I have been myself, but also I feel like I’ve elevated my game defensively (and) baserunning-wise, as well,” added Alonso, who hit .175 in April but is batting .252 with 25 homers and 75 RBIs on the season. “So, some adjustments that I’m really proud to have made, but also (I give credit to the) coaches, fans, teammates kind of sticking with me through those times and constantly believing.”
Meanwhile, the Twins will try to bounce back after a series loss on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers. Minnesota fell short 4-3 in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon as the Brewers’ Jake Bauers delivered a walk-off hit.
Twins manager Derek Shelton hopes to see more timely hitting against the Orioles.
“We had opportunities and we did not capitalize on them,” Shelton said after Sunday’s loss.
Part of the problem had to do with the Twins facing Brewers ace right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, who touched 103 mph to start the game.
“That’s elite stuff,” Shelton said. “That’s one of the top two or three guys in the game.”
Next up is Orioles left-hander Trevor Rogers (7-7, 4.20 ERA), who is scheduled to start the series opener. Rogers is coming off a victory in his most recent performance in which he limited the Los Angeles Angels to two runs on three runs in six innings in a 5-2 home win Wednesday.
Rogers has faced the Twins only once in his career, on Opening Day of this season. He scattered three hits in seven scoreless innings, walking four and striking out five in a 2-1 home win.
The Twins will counter Monday with right-hander Dean Kremer (1-4, 5.93), who will face his former team. Minnesota acquired Kremer from the Orioles before the trade deadline to boost their rotation.
In his first start with the Twins, Kremer drew a no-decision after holding the Kansas City Royals to one run in five innings. He allowed three hits, walked two and struck out two.
The 30-year-old Kremer never has faced the Orioles, which is the only team he played for before he was shipped to the Twins. He went 42-44 with a 4.37 ERA in seven seasons with Baltimore.
–Field Level Media
