NEW YORK — After finally hitting home run No. 253, a new Mets record, first baseman Pete Alonso stood on a bench on the top step of the dugout and waved his helmet. Standing beside him, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza looked up at his slugger, soaking in all the love from the fans. Mendoza captured a snapshot of Alonso’s wide, boyish smile in his mind.

After flirting with the possibility for weeks, Pete Alonso finally stood alone as the Mets’ all-time home-run king when he slugged his 253rd career homer, surpassing Darryl Strawberry for the most in Mets history.

Pete Alonso and the New York Mets are currently locked into a tough battle in the National League East division race. Right now, they trail the Philadelphia Phillies by five games. If the season were to end today,