Pete Alonso’s 4-hit night drives Orioles to blowout victory over Cardinals

ST. LOUIS — Pete Alonso hits well in just about every ballpark, but what he has done in his career at Busch Stadium makes him the bane of Missouri.

The first baseman was the protagonist of Baltimore’s offensive showcase that amounted to a 13-1 victory for the Orioles over the St. Louis Cardinals. This sort of display — which included a season-high eight runs in one inning — begins a nine-game road trip in a positive light.

The torrent of runs supported right-hander Chris Bassitt, who produced his best start as an Oriole by allowing one run in 6 2/3 innings. The Orioles matched their season high with 13 runs — and for the moment, until the Cleveland Guardians finish their game late Tuesday, they are only two games back of a wild-card spot despite a 64-68 record.

Alonso was the heartbeat of this onslaught. Among all active players with at least 75 plate appearances at Busch Stadium, his 1.243 on-base-plus-slugging percentage is the best in Major League Baseball.

“Pete’s unreal,” Christian Encarnacion-Strand said. “It’s awesome to watch him and talk to him when we’re in the cages about hitting. It’s great. It’s great. He’s a real team leader.”

For all of Alonso’s success, however, slight concern loomed over a dominant win that featured a 4-for-4 performance from Baltimore’s largest free agent signing ever. Alonso departed following the fifth inning, and a midgame update from Mid-Atlantic Sports Network said he appeared to be dealing with something regarding his calf. Alonso dealt with a calf cramp earlier this month during a series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

However, when asked about the decision to remove Alonso from the game, manager Craig Albernaz said it was to get the veteran some rest.

“Precautionary,” Albernaz said. “Game state, get him off his feet. Obviously, he was dealing with his calf, so there was no point to push him there, and we had the guys to mix and match with Sammy [Basallo] going to first and to get Narvy [Carlos Narváez] in behind the plate.”

When asked if the removal was due to the same calf issue from earlier this month in Tampa Bay, Albernaz said, “I didn’t say anything was bothering him. Just said, ‘Took him off his feet because of the Tampa outing.’”

Alonso also said everything is fine, before adding that this was a “super sick W.”

“For us to kind of bounce back after a loss and an off day,” he continued, “just kind of rebuild some momentum, huge day.”

There was much to like from the Orioles against left-hander Matthew Liberatore and the subsequent relievers. Even though Baltimore stranded Jackson Holliday and Alonso on base in the first inning, the breakthrough came soon enough.

With singles from Leody Taveras and Holliday — the latter of whom returned to a ballpark in which he grew up, watching his dad play for the Cardinals — Alonso came to the plate in the third inning. He promptly demolished a three-run homer for his 31st long ball of the season.

And with two outs, Encarnacion-Strand showed off his power. He drilled a first-pitch fastball from Liberatore an estimated 450 feet to establish a four-run lead.

“It was a lot of good on the offensive side of the ball, especially running the bases aggressively early,” Albernaz said. “A lot of first-to-thirds. A lot of guys in motion with hits. Obviously, the big swings by Pete and CES, and Jackie had a great day. Pete had a great day.”

Nathan Church’s solo homer to begin the bottom half of the frame served as the lone run the Cardinals managed against Bassitt. He allowed six hits and walked none while striking out five batters. He left the mound in the seventh with 99 pitches under his belt, a hefty lead on the scoreboard and a smile on his face.

This was only his third start since returning from midseason back surgery. Bassitt appears looser, and while he said earlier this month some of his misses were due to him adjusting his mechanics away from bad habits he developed to deal with pain, he didn’t seem to have any such issues Tuesday.

“I’m just happy that I feel good,” he said. “I’ve always had a lot of confidence that if I feel good, I’ll be good. And just, again, it’s unfortunate that I’ve started this year off searching how to feel good for a long time, so, yeah, I’m just, again, really happy that I feel normal.”

The Orioles’ offense didn’t have any issues, either.

The fifth inning turned into a jailbreak against Liberatore, right-hander Peter Strzelecki and left-hander Caleb Ferguson. To begin the inning, Holliday singled for a second time. He’d later single for a third time in the same inning. But for the moment, his leadoff knock set up what soon became Coby Mayo’s bases-loaded single. Encarnacion-Strand plated two more with a single of his own against Strzelecki.

Strzelecki allowed a two-run single to Taveras with the bases loaded, and Holliday and Alonso chased Strzelecki from the game by driving a single and a double.

Finally, Ferguson recorded the last two outs of the inning. But the damage was done, and the Orioles coasted to a blowout victory to begin this three-city road trip in strong form.

Bassitt joked that it “gets to a point where you’re kind of hoping for an out or two” so he can get back out on the mound. But he stayed loose and ready, and any pitcher will take this sort of firepower.

“It’s always a good thing. It’s always a good problem to have,” Bassitt said of working to stay loose.

Notes

• Outfielder Tyler O’Neill was out of the lineup Tuesday against a left-hander because of right shoulder soreness, Albernaz said. O’Neill was due to undergo an MRI on Tuesday afternoon, and the results are pending. However, O’Neill was on the bench in uniform during the game. The sore shoulder stems from a diving catch O’Neill made Saturday. In case of need, Albernaz said, the Orioles had infielder Luis Vázquez on the taxi squad.
• Utilityman Blaze Alexander began a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Norfolk. He’s nearing a return from a broken left hand, and he said last week that he hopes to come back this weekend.
• Right-hander Ryan Helsley threw his first bullpen session Sunday. He’s recovering from elbow inflammation. The bullpen session lasted 15 pitches and included off-speed pitches. He figures to have more bullpen sessions in the coming days and weeks and hopes to return this year.
• Right-hander Félix Bautista made his first rehab appearance Sunday for Double-A Chesapeake, and he’ll continue this week with Norfolk. He struggled with command in his first appearance since shoulder surgery last year, but Albernaz said the encouraging sign was that his velocity was up to 97 mph and he came out of it healthy.