NEW YORK – Pete Alonso of the Mets stepped up to bat in the first inning of what may be his last home game at Citi Field and was greeted with thunderous applause.

“‘Do you want to take your hat off or something?'” Alonso recalled referee John Libka saying. “‘I can give you time right here.'”

“Oh yes,” replied Alonso.

“I was really glad John reminded me of that.”

Alonso waved his helmet in front of the sell-out crowd of 43,139 and touched it to his heart after the first of several standing ovations.

“It’s wild. It’s something you just hear about, read about or see in movies,” Alonso said.

Alonso went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the Mets’ 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday night. With one week to go in the season, New York has a chance at the National League’s second wild card and is two games ahead of the Atlanta Braves for the final postseason spot.

“That’s our identity,” Alonso said. “We fight and fight for every pitch, every out. A game like today really shows our character and who we are, who the 2024 Mets are.”

Alonso has a batting average of .244 with 31 home runs and 86 RBIs. The 29-year-old first baseman has a one-year, $20.5 million contract. He will be eligible to become a free agent after the World Series and will be represented by Scott Boras, an agent known for testing the market.

“POLAR BEAR, PLEASE STAY” and “SAVE THE POLAR BEAR” were written on two hand signs, referring to Alonso’s nickname.

“That’s what makes this city such a special city,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “I got goosebumps when that happened.”

Alonso, the four-time All-Star who has been a fan favorite since hitting his 53rd home run in 2019 and winning the NL Rookie of the Year award, said he is not thinking about free agency and is focused on winning his first World Series title, the Mets’ first since 1986.

“We still have some meat on the bone,” he said. “We still have work to do and we need to finish it.”