It took until February 12 of the offseason to figure out where Pete Alonso would continue his MLB career. In the end, nothing changed — he stayed in New York and remained the slugger for the Mets.

Through the first month of the season, no one in the National League is hitting like Pete Alonso. The New York Mets slugger has set a career-best pace and has led the way in his team's ascent to the top of the standings.

The Mets played to plenty of contact on this night, but Alonso’s fifth-inning homer provided firepower in a 9-3 victory over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Alonso launched a two-run, go-ahead blast in helping the Mets win their ninth straight game against the Cardinals dating to last season.