Mets Trying To Build Momentum After Winning Series Opener Over AL-Worst Angels
The New York Mets opened May and its series against the Los Angeles Angels with a victory, defeating the Angels 4-3 in comeback fashion Friday night.
The Mets desperately needed to find a way to secure a win against the American League’s worst team , and it has shortstop Ronny Mauricio to thank for that. The Mets trailed 3-0 after Jorge Soler hit a two-run home run in the first inning and Zach Neto scored on a throwing error by catcher Francisco Alvarez in the third, but New York clawed back to tie it in the sixth.
Alvarez made up for his blunder and knocked in the first run of the game for the Mets followed by second baseman Marcus Semien ’s two-run single to tie the game at 3. After lefty reliever Brooks Raley put up a zero in the seventh inning, Mauricio came up and clobbered a go-ahead 421-foot solo shot to break the tie.
Mets right-hander Christian Scott redeemed himself after walking five batters in 1.1 innings during his last outing – Scott threw five innings and allowed two runs on three hits without walking a batter and striking out eight Angels. He earned a no-decision, but the Mets are surely pleased with his efforts.
The bullpen, which has been brutal to watch this season, stepped up and threw four perfect innings and struck out six batters. Closer Devin Williams lowered his ERA to 7.20 and struck out two to earn his third save in a Mets uniform.
New York calls upon rookie phenom righty Nolan McLean to win the series against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers on Saturday.
McLean has picked up where he left off last season, going 1-2 with a 2.55 ERA and 0.85 WHIP (fourth-best) with 45 strikeouts (tied-ninth) through six starts (35.1 innings). McLean has a 4.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has made opposing teams look silly every fifth day, but teams have been able to generate some offense against him late in his outings.
McLean tossed five innings against the Colorado Rockies during his last start and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out seven, earning his second loss of the season.
Detmers is back in the starting rotation after becoming a dominant reliever for the Angels a season ago. The 26-year-old is 1-2 with a 4.28 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 36 strikeouts through six starts (33.2 innings). Detmers allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while fanning five in five innings against the Kansas City Royals his last time out.
First pitch is at 9:38 p.m. EDT on ESPN Unlimited, MLB.TV and regional sports networks.
