The Baltimore Orioles beat the New York Mets 7-1 Wednesday as Pete Alonso's first-inning home run off Xzavion Curry ignited a barrage that chased the Mets starter before the fourth inning.
Baltimore sent four balls over the fence in the first three innings against Curry, who lasted just three innings and allowed six earned runs on six hits. Alonso's solo shot to left center in the first got Baltimore on the board, and the Orioles added two more in the second on Jeremiah Jackson's two-run homer to center. Christian Encarnacion-Strand's two-run homer to left center in the third pushed the lead to 5-0, and Samuel Basallo followed with a solo shot to make it 6-0 before Curry exited. New York got one back in the fourth on a Marcus Semien single that scored Jared Young, but Basallo added a ninth-inning RBI single to set the final margin.
Encarnacion-Strand finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Basallo went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI, and Jackson added a homer and two RBI. Chris Bassitt earned the win, allowing one earned run over 6.2 innings while striking out six.
The Orioles improved to 75-78 but remain 2.5 games back of the final American League wild-card spot with the postseason window narrowing fast.