51s' Alonso clubs two more dingers

Peter Alonso won't make it to The Show this season, but he's ending his regular season with a show.
The second-ranked Mets prospect clubbed his 34th and 35th homers on Friday night, going 4-for-5 as Triple-A Las Vegas pounded Sacramento, 11-2, at Cashman Field.

"Last year, I was hurt and I didn't have the full sample size, but I had a really good [year]," Alonso said. "But this year I've been healthy the whole year -- which I've been really grateful for -- and I'm really happy I got to show what I can do, healthy on a full season."

Gameday box score
The right-handed slugger is just one homer behind Reds prospect Ibandel Isabel for the Minor League lead and his 117 RBIs lead the Minors. Alonso scored a career-high four runs and tied a personal best with four hits, a feat he's accomplished three times in his three-year career.
Scouts say while Alonso's power has surged, his hit tool also improved.
"It has to do with confidence but also pitch recognition," he said. "As soon as I got up here in Triple-A, the biggest adjustment was getting your pitch to hit and then capitalizing on it. The pitchers are more dynamic here. They can manipulate the ball a little better. They have a couple of extra pitches in their repertoire. It's learning how to lay off those pitches and get yourself in an advantage count."

Despite Alonso's gaudy numbers, the Mets have said they won't call up the first baseman, citing a desire to see Jay Bruce at the position while giving at-bats to Dominic Smith and Wilmer Flores.
In an interview with the New York Post, Alonso said he was "disappointed" with the decision but had no beef with the Mets, who took him in the second round of the 2016 Draft out of the University of Florida.
"For me, it just motivates me," he said about not getting a callup. "Yeah, it didn't happen, but I still have work to do. The [Arizona] Fall League is a great chance, a great opportunity to get better. It's a super-fun environment and I get to play with awesome, talented players, and it's a chance to keep working."
Alonso is expected to work on his defense in the AFL.
"And then get ready for spring after and go to Spring Training and try to hit the ground running," he said.
On Friday, the 23-year-old got off to a quick start, driving in a run in the first inning with a single off right-hander Mike Connolly. In the second, Alonso followed Jack Reinheimer's single with a long blast that cleared the wall in right-center for his 19th homer with Las Vegas.

"I'm just a big guy. I got big legs, strong torso, big arms. Naturally, I guess a good way to call it is country strong? Like I work out and stuff like that, but that's just how I ... if I were to classify my strength, I would classify it as country strong," he said.
Two innings later, the Tampa native lined a leadoff single to center, then opened the sixth against right-handed reliever Pierce Johnson with a shot over the wall in left-center field for homer No. 35.
Alonso's career high in homers with the Gators was 14, but he noted the abbreviated college season.
"In college, you only play like 60 games, you only play half the games. If you were to just multiply the at-bats by two, because that equates to like 120 games, 130, so that would be like a normal Minor League sample size, and then I think that would be more accurate if you're going to compare it to college," he said.
"But for me, I just think I know I've been powerful my entire life. Right now, I've had the opportunity to show that and what I can do the entire season."
Alonso, who hit three homers on June 23 against Reno, had a shot at another hat trick in the eighth but struck out against Steven Okert.

The 51s gave Alonso plenty of help as Zach Borenstein belted his 25th homer, a solo shot in the third, and Colton Plaia added a two-run blast.
Matt Gage (5-8) struck out 10 over six innings for the win, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk.
Connolly surrendered nine runs on eight hits, including three homers, in two frames.