Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets (39-21) faced off against the Los Angeles Angels (28-32) in Anaheim Saturday night. After taking game one of the three game set on Friday, Carlos Carrasco and the Mets looked to secure at least a .500 west coast trip. The Angels offense and starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen shined to beat the Mets by the score of 11-6.
Carrasco entered the night with hopes to build off of very good starts in his last two outings against the Padres and Nationals, where he combined for 12 innings, 15 strikeouts and only two earned runs. He began his night by walking Brandon Marsh in the bottom of the first. After striking out Mike Trout, the 2021 American League MVP Shohei Ohtani ripped a RBI double into the right-center field gap, plating Marsh and advancing to third after the relay throw to home was too tough to handle. Anthony Rendon followed that up with a RBI double of his own, allowing Ohtani to score, bringing the Angels’ lead to 2-0 after one.
The Angels’ offense had their foot on the pedal from start to finish. Their star power led the way, with Trout, Ohtani and Rendon each collecting at least one extra-base hit. Trout led off inning number three with a solo shot to left field. In the sixth inning, Trout hit a two-run moon shot to dead center field, pinballing off the rocks to improve the Angels lead to eight runs. Ohtani secured his second extra base with a home run off of Carrasco in the fifth inning, effectively ending Carrasco’s night.
The Mets were a part of the second cycle during their road trip, this time being on the receiving end of it. Angels first baseman Jared Walsh completed for the cycle after his ninth inning hit got past the diving glove of Khalil Lee. It was the first time an Angels player had earned this feat since June 13, 2019 by Ohtani.
Carrasco struggled with the power bats of the Angels offense. He allowed seven extra base hits, including two home runs, four doubles and a triple. His final line was 4 2/3 innings pitched, five earned runs, one walk and seven strikeouts. He picked up his second loss of the season. Entering the day, he was tied with six other pitchers for the league lead in wins, with seven.
The Mets’ offense was stagnant most of the night. Picking up hits here and there, they couldn’t seem to get the runs needed to cross the plate.
J.D. Davis and Luis Guillorme each picked up a pair of hits. Davis scored the first run on a single by Mark Canha. Pete Alonso crushed a hanging breaking ball in the eighth inning down the left field line, bringing the Mets’ deficit to 9-2.
The offense came alive late into the night by scoring four runs in the top of the ninth. Tomás Nido scored on an error by Walsh to get the runs started. Lee then stepped up to the plate and crushed a fastball into the night, a three-run homer, which was his first of his career, to cut the lead to 11-6. The damage stopped there and Patrick Mazeika struck out to end the game.
The Angels hit a total of five home runs, while collecting thirteen hits. They were 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
The Mets’ bullpen didn’t have a great night either. Jake Reed allowed three earned runs in less than a full inning of work, his first appearance since being recalled to the big leagues. Chasen Shreve allowed a solo home run to Walsh in the seventh inning. Shreve finished his day pitching two innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs, with three strikeouts.
Player of the Game: Khalil Lee
Lee was one of the very few bright spots for the Mets in this game. He didn’t check into the game until the eighth inning when the game was already out of hand. Coming in as a defensive replacement, he made his impact with a three-run shot to center field in the ninth inning. It was his first career home run, and his first hit for the Mets this season. After going 1-for-18 in 2021 in the big leagues, he is already off to a much better start to his 2022 campaign, no matter how long his time with the Mets may last.
The Mets will close out their west coast trip on Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN at 7:08 P.M. Taijuan Walker will face off against Patrick Sandoval. The Mets will need to win the game in order to finish the long trip with a .500 record.
