Mets Series Review: Finishing up the Long Road Trip
With the Atlanta Braves fattening up against the worst teams in baseball, the New York Mets concluded their grueling ten-game road trip to Southern California with the Los Angeles Angels. The Mets came into the series having lost two straight to the Padres. As the Braves turned it up 11 against the pathetic Pirates, the Mets had to battle an Angels team trying to right the ship after ending a 14-game losing streak the day before the Mets came to town.
The Mets got good news for the opener, as Tylor Megill made his first start in a month after suffering from biceps tendinitis. The Mets also got Pete Alonso back in the lineup after missing one game with a hand injury. Starling Marte was still sidelined with a quad strain, but the Mets' offense was back on track as they scored three runs in the second inning. Mark Canha provided the big hit with a two-run double to send Angels' starter Jhonathan Diaz to an early shower. Megill gave up a two-run home run to Brandon Marsh in the bottom of the second but settled in and gave the Mets three and one-third innings before reaching his pitch limit. David Peterson came on and was terrific. Peterson allowed one run and pitched two and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on a Marsh home run.
Brandon Nimmo had a big game on Friday night; he hit a home run in the fourth, had a two-run double, and later scored to stretch the Mets' lead to 7-2. The Mets got tremendous relief after Marsh's second home run, winning 7-3, as Drew Smith, Joely Rodriguez, Adam Ottavino, and Edwin Diaz allowed one hit over the final three innings.
Carlos Carrasco pitched game two for the Mets and turned into the Danish tin cookies that you wish were sewing equipment as the Angels scored two runs in the first, with Shoei Ohtani providing the big hit with a double. Mike Trout had a home run in the third, and Ohtani had a home run in the fifth to chase Carrasco, who allowed five runs on nine hits. Michael Lorenzen, meanwhile, frustrated the Mets, allowing one run on six hits in six and one-third innings.
The Angels continued to belt the Mets, as Jake Reed and Chasen Shreve each allowed three runs, with the Angels taking an 11-2 lead. Ohtani and Trout each went 3-for-4, with three runs and three RBI, while Jared Walsh hit for the cycle. The Mets got a late home run from Pete Alonso and a home run from Khalil Lee but lost 11-6.
The series and the road trip came to an end on Sunday night baseball. There could have been extra drama, but Noah Syndergaard chickened out and did not pitch, asking for extra rest. Taijuan Walker made his third start on the trip and gave up a run in the first inning, as Mike Trout singled in Brandon Marsh. However, after the first two runners reached, Walker buckled down and pitched his best game of the season. He allowed one run on six hits in six innings, striking out ten.
With Taijuan Walker shutting down the Angels after the first, the Mets tied the game on a double by Starling Marte, who played his first game since Tuesday. In the fourth, the Mets took the lead on a home run by J.D. Davis Pete Alonso meanwhile added runs in the seventh and ninth, with an infield hit in the seventh and a home run in the ninth. Buck Showalter sensing the game's importance had Edwin Diaz get a five-out save. Diaz allowed one walk and struck out five for his 12th save.
The Mets end the road trip 5-5 but lost half of their lead as the Braves have won 11 straight while playing the worst in the league. The Mets will host the Brewers starting on Tuesday.