“I want to win, and I trust him to run out the best lineup” - Pete Alonso supports Carlos Mendoza’s decision to bat him fifth

New York Mets boss Carlos Mendoza made the big decision to move slugger Pete Alonso down the batting order. Usually batting cleanup, Mendoza instead sent out Alonso at no. 5 in the Mets' one-off makeup game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Monday.

The move comes after Alonso has struggled at the plate off late. Pete has 23 home runs and .790 OPS this season, a marked decrease from his typical numbers by this point every year. With the change in order, Mendoza is hoping that the Mets batting lineup, which is struggling with bringing in runners in scoring positions, can improve its form.

Talking to SNY TV before the game in St Louis, Alonso explained how he was made aware of the change well in advance (0:01).

"He [Mendoza] talked to me yesterday on the plane. [Mendoza said he] Just wanted to see what the lineup's like with you at 5, just want to see what we can do with a different look."

Asked about his take on the change, Pete reiterated that he trusts the decisions made by his manager for the team's best interest (0:16).

"I trust him to run out the best lineup every single day. If that is what he thinks is gonna help us win, I'm all for it. I want to win."

Pete Alonso scores first run as Mets hit Cardinals for six after batting order change

The change in batting order made by New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza before the Mets' took on the Cardinals in St. Louis proved to be an inspired decision, as the Mets scored six unanswered runs in a dominant performance.

Pete Alonso, who was shifted to number 5, scored the first run after a wild pitch from Andre Pallante beat catcher Pedro Pages. Pete had taken a walk earlier in the inning to get on base and also registered a hit later in the game.

Pete Alonso and the Mets score a big win after batting order change.

The Mets also seem to have solved their issues with bringing in runners as well. Jeff McNeil and Tyrone Taylor registered four RBIs between them as the Mets stepped on the gas and scored four runs in the top of the 5th. That saw the end of Pallante's afternoon on the mound, but it was already too steep a deficit for the Cardinals to recover from.

Pete Alonso and the Mets will be hoping to take Monday's momentum with them as they head to Coors Field next to take on a struggling Colorado Rockies side in a three-game series.