Alonso breaks rookie HR record

New York

Pete Alonso hit his 53rd home run to break the rookie record Yankees star Aaron Judge set in 2017, and the New York Mets beat the playoff-bound Atlanta Braves 3-0 on Saturday night.

A 24-year-old who debuted on opening day, Alonso launched a 93 mph fastball on a 1-2 count from former All-Star Mike Foltynewicz just to the right of straightaway center field. The solo shot in the third boosted the lead to 3-0 and followed a two-run homer earlier in the inning by light-hitting backup catcher Rene Rivera.

As Alonso's 415-foot drive landed in the seats, the Home Run Derby champion raised both arms in triumph while running to first base. Mets teammates came out of the dugout to congratulate him, and the crowd of 32,210 at Citi Field gave a standing ovation to a player nicknamed Polar Bear during spring training by teammate Todd Frazier.

"It's surreal. It was almost like an out-of-body experience," Alonso said. "Unbelievable moment.

"This is more than a dream. This is more than fantasy. I can't put it into words."

Alonso raised both arms again, tilted his head back and looked skyward as he stood in front of the dugout. Overcome with emotion, he had tears in his eyes when he went to first base in the fourth.

"I was just kind of thinking about all the greats in the game of baseball. I was thinking about guys like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, guys like Aaron Judge," Alonso said, "and the fact that I'm ahead of those guys as a rookie, it's mind-blowing."

He heads into the final day of the regular season leading the majors in homers, four ahead of Cincinnati's Eugenio Suarez. No rookie since 1900 has won an outright home run title in the big leagues.

Alonso has already set franchise records for homers, total bases (347) and extra-base hits (85). He has 120 RBIs and 102 runs,...