NEW YORK — As the enthusiastic fans at Citi Field stood up just before Pete Alonso’s first at-bat on Sunday night, home-plate umpire John Lipka waited for the Mets first baseman to make his move.

“Hey, are you going to do something?” Lipka asked Alonso, who was focused on facing the Phillies’ Zack Wheeler.

“Are you going to tip your cap or something? I can give you time right here.”

This moment allowed Alonso to appreciate the atmosphere.

As he potentially played his last home game at Citi Field as a Met, the crowd erupted with cheers for the local hero. The 29-year-old Alonso, who will become a free agent this offseason, was greeted with a standing ovation every time he came to bat.

Before stepping up to bat, Alonso raised his helmet to the crowd that has supported him throughout his six years in the league, where he has hit 226 home runs and earned four All-Star selections.

“It was really special. It felt like a scene from a movie for me,” Alonso reflected. “Experiencing that from a full stadium is simply remarkable. It’s something you hear about or read in stories, but for me, it was very special.”

Throughout the night, Alonso was met with cheers of “Peeeete” and “Pete A-lon-so!” The crowd waved signs like “Polar Bear Please Stay” and “We ♥ Pete.”

The affection was palpable among Alonso, his teammates, and coaches during the Mets’ last regular-season home game. Although Alonso went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, he made a spectacular play, preventing Bryson Stott from getting a hit with a stylish diving stop for the final out of the sixth inning.

“Absolutely incredible. That’s what it’s all about,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza praised the response. “This city’s uniqueness and our fans, the Mets fans, make it special. I felt goosebumps when that happened.”

Mendoza has been consistently hopeful that Sunday wouldn’t be the Mets’ last home game of the 2024 season. With their 2-1 victory against the Phillies, the Mets secured the No. 2 wild-card position in the National League, tying with the Diamondbacks while keeping a two-game lead over the Braves, who sit just outside the playoff picture.

The team heads into the final week with confidence, as they prepare for series against the Braves and Brewers. For now, Alonso isn’t thinking about possibly donning a different uniform soon. He is focused on helping the Mets secure a playoff spot.

“We’re in a great position, and it’s an honor to be part of this team, to play alongside these guys and represent this franchise,” Alonso remarked before the game. “Wearing the orange and blue every day is amazing. I’m thrilled.

“We’re engaged in significant baseball right now. This is what we’ve all been working towards all offseason. It’s finally here, and we need to take full advantage.”

While Sunday may not have been Alonso’s final appearance on Citi Field, the fans made it clear they want him to stay if it ends up being the case.