The New York Mets clinched their third consecutive victory, edging out the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 to win the series. This game illustrated a mix of highs and lows within the Mets lineup, where the lower-order batters shone despite challenges faced by the marquee players.
Francisco Alvarez made a notable return to the lineup, contributing significantly after being reinstated from the minors. Trailing 2-0 at the start of the fifth inning, the Mets mounted a comeback. Brett Baty, with two outs, initiated the rally by hitting a double. Alvarez demonstrated his power with a game-tying home run, having just missed a similar opportunity earlier. Ronny Mauricio then added momentum with a single and a stolen base, allowing Brandon Nimmo to drive him home, pushing the Mets ahead 3-2.
Starting pitcher Frankie Montas performed admirably, overcoming two early runs contributed by Angels’ player Jorge Soler. He limited the damage during critical moments, including striking out superstar Mike Trout with runners in scoring position. Montas finished with 5.2 innings pitched, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out six. His defense was supported by Juan Soto, who delivered a crucial outfield assist in the first inning.
However, the Mets’ top performers, including Francisco Lindor, who has now gone 0-for-30, and others like Soto and Alonso, struggled collectively with an 0-for-9 showing. Despite two defensive errors from the Angels in the seventh, the Mets could not capitalize, stranding multiple runners.
In a tense finish, manager Carlos Mendoza managed to piece together a makeshift bullpen solution with Rico Garcia and Reed Garrett each striking out two batters. Ryne Stanek secured the save despite a late rally attempt from the Angels, successfully getting Trout to pop up with two on base.
Overall, this victory showcased the resilience of the Mets in the face of adversity, highlighting the contributions from their younger players while underscoring the need for improvement from the established stars going forward. With this collective effort, there remains hope that the team’s performance can be elevated as the season progresses.