ST. PETERSBURG -- Orioles fans experienced a bit of a scare on Saturday night, when an athletic trainer came on the field to check on star first baseman Pete Alonso during the 10th inning of the club’s 4-3 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field.
Good news: Alonso was just dealing with a cramp in his right calf and said he’s going to be fine to play in Sunday’s 12:15 p.m. ET matchup vs. Tampa Bay.
“There’s no concern about whatever,” Alonso said. “I’ve hobbled around before in my career, played through worse. It is what it is. Just got to stay on top of some work, and it is what it is. Feel fine, feel good. Got a game in maybe 18 hours or so, so I’ve got to do whatever I can to get ready for that. I’m in good hands, I feel good.
"I’m going to be in there tomorrow."
Alonso felt the cramp after knocking a single with no outs in the top of the 10th. The 31-year-old slugger was visited by a trainer and manager Craig Albernaz near first base, but they weren’t on the field long, as Alonso quickly assured them he could stay in for the rest of the game.
As Baltimore’s players took the field for defense in the bottom of the 10th, Alonso was moving a bit more gingerly than usual. However, he stayed in for the rest of the victory, and he had no trouble attempting to field a few ground balls that rolled foul during the inning.
“I feel totally fine,” Alonso said. “Nothing’s perfect. Obviously, visually or whatever, people know it. ... Is it at 100 percent? No. But no one’s at 100 percent. It’s late in the year. You’ve got to play with nicks and dings. Everyone at this point has had nicks and dings, and it just is what it is. For me, it’s nothing I haven’t done before. I’ve had cramps, I’ve had things not feel well. Just because you don’t feel well doesn’t mean you can’t play and be effective and still go out there and be at your best.”
The Orioles (60-63) will be glad to still have Alonso, who collected three hits and swatted his team-high 27th home run of the season in the win. He is hitting .264 with an .843 OPS and has started all 123 games during his first year in Baltimore.