Before Sunday night’s game, Pete Alonso wasn’t sure whether he would receive an out-of-the-ordinary ovation from Mets fans. An impending free agent, Alonso said he wasn’t focused on the possibility that the series finale against the Phillies could be his final game at Citi Field as a Met. But it didn’t take long for a sold-out crowd to show Alonso love. Alonso received a standing ovation before his first-inning at-bat, a gesture he acknowledged by waving his helmet to the cheering fans. “It was really special,” Alonso said after the Mets’ 2-1 win. “It’s right out of a storybook for me. It is truly, truly remarkable to be able to see and feel that reaction and appreciation from a packed house like that.” The reception caught Alonso off guard, he said. “[Home-plate umpire John Libka was] like, ‘Hey, are you gonna do something? Are you gonna tip your cap or something? I can give you time right here.’ I’m like, ‘What?’ I was worried about my at-bat,” Alonso said. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, I should! I should do this!’ I was really happy that John reminded me. I was focused on the at-bat, and then I kind of looked up and, wow. This is like a movie.” Fans showered the first baseman with chants of “Pete A-lon-so” throughout the evening. Alonso finished 0-for-4 with three strikeouts but came away with a lasting memory. Sunday marked the final regular-season game at Citi Field this year, but a playoff run could mean October baseball in Flushing. The Mets are tied with the Diamondbacks for the second National League Wild Card spot and two games ahead of the Braves for the final Wild Card position. “In my mind, it’s not [my final home game], because for me, I just really want to give the best I can every single day for this team,” Alonso said before the game. “I’m just really excited to be able to capture this opportunity for this team. We’ve come so far this year, and I’m so stoked to play every day, play with these guys. It’s so fun. I’ve been pretty persistent on just thinking on how I can win today.” The Mets would need to climb to the top Wild Card position during the season’s final week in order to host a series in the Wild Card round. Otherwise, the Mets would have to advance to the NLDS to return to Citi Field. “It’s not gonna be his last game here,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of Alonso. “We’re planning on playing more games here this year. … We’re not ready to call it. I’m telling you, we’re expecting to be back here this year and [to] play more games here.” Now in his sixth MLB season, all with the Mets, the 29-year-old Alonso boasts 226 career home runs, which rank third in franchise history. He is the only Met with multiple seasons of at least 40 home runs — a feat he’s achieved three times. His 34 home runs and 88 RBI this season lead the Mets, but his contract remains the subject of widespread speculation, and he’s been asked about it regularly. “It’s not about me,” Alonso said. “This is about us and who we are. This is about the 2024 Mets today. From where we’ve come as a group, we’ve come so far, and we just need to finish.” The Mets fell a season-worst 11 games below .500 on May 29 but have been a tear ever since, improving Sunday to 87-69. Unlikely heroes continue to step up, from veteran infielder Jose Iglesias, whose Latin pop single “OMG” became the team’s rally anthem, to Grimace, the McDonald’s mascot whose viral first pitch at Citi Field in June coincided with the Mets’ turnaround. The Mets finished their final home stand at 6-1 despite the absence of star shortstop Francisco Lindor, who was out of the lineup for a seventh consecutive game Sunday due to lower-back discomfort. Last week, Alonso confirmed he spoke up during a team meeting amid uncertainty around Lindor’s status. “People are gonna think about the 2024 Mets like ‘OMG’ or Grimace, but the one word for me that comes to mind is ‘resilient’ when you think of the 2024 Mets because we’ve earned the right to be in this position,” Alonso said before Sunday’s win. “To be a part of this group, it’s been really, really special.”