The New York Mets earned a decisive win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, but first baseman Pete Alonso was in an apologetic mood after unknowingly tossing Cardinals top prospect Masyn Winn’s first hit into the stands.
In the fifth inning of Friday’s game at Busch Stadium, Winn, who was making his major-league debut, beat out a slow grounder to third base for his first big-league hit. It was one of the home side’s few bright moments during the 7-1 loss.
But Alonso said he didn’t realize the hit’s significance. After fielding the wide throw, the frustrated first baseman tossed the milestone ball into the stands, prompting a wave of boos. Stadium staff eventually retrieved the ball from the fan who caught it.
After the game, Alonso insisted that it was an innocent mistake that he’d like to have back. He only realized the error when some former teammates of his on the Cardinals began yelling at him, according to SNY.
“I feel awful. I feel like a piece of crap,” Alonso said, per Newsday’s Tim Healey. The slugger added that he’s planning to get Winn an additional gift to make up for his blunder.
Winn bore no ill will toward his opponent, noting that Alonso apologized to him on the field twice, including after he reached base later in the game, according to John Denton of MLB.com.
The 21-year-old added that he plans to give the ball to his mother.
Winn, the Cardinals’ second-round pick in 2020, went 1-for-4 in his big-league debut and didn’t commit an error in six defensive chances at shortstop.
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