Mets Get Their Halos,Top Angels 7-3

The New York Mets (39-21) traveled to Anaheim Friday night to take on the Angels (28-32) for the first time since 2014. The Angels came into the game off a 5-2 win against the Red Sox, a win which snapped their 14-game losing streak. The Mets came in having lost their last two games against the Padres in lopsided fashion. The Mets needed a win tonight to get their west coast road trip back on track and the offense delivered with a 7-3 defeat of the Angels.

The Mets bats were hot early, scoring three runs in the second inning and knocking Angels’ spot starter Jhonathan Diaz from the game. The inning started with back-to-back base hits by Eduardo Escobar and Jeff McNeil. After J.D. Davis struck out and Luis Guillorme lined out to the second baseman, the Mets got their first run of the game off a ground ball base hit by Tomas Nido. After a Brandon Nimmo walk to load the bases, Mark Canha followed with a sharp line drive double to right and the Mets had a 3-0 lead.

Nimmo would tack on another run for the Mets in the top of the fourth inning. He hit a two-out, solo home run, which was his first home run since April 25.

The Mets added more runs in the top of the sixth inning. Davis started the inning with a single, and Guillorme followed with a walk. Nimmo drove in Davis and Guillorme with a two-run double down the left field line. Canha followed with a single through the right side against the shift, and Nimmo scored from second. With their sixth inning hits, Nimmo and Canha each had three RBIs in the game.

Tylor Megill got the start for the Mets. It was his first start since going on the injured list on May 15 with biceps tendonitis. It was an expected short outing for Megill, and he only went 4 1/3 innings. Megill had a great first inning but faltered in the second. He gave up a two-run homer to Brandon Marsh, cutting the Mets’ lead at the time to 3-2. Megill was able to get out of the inning and finish the rest of his outing without giving up any more runs. In all, Megill struck out four, walked one, and gave up two runs in his return to the rotation.

David Peterson came on in relief of Megill with one out in the fourth inning and promptly got Tyler Wade to ground into a double play, ending the inning. Peterson allowed two runners to reach base in the bottom of the fifth innings, but he got a ground ball out for the final out to keep the Angels from scoring.  He was not so lucky in the bottom of the sixth, giving up a solo home run to Marsh, Marsh’s second home run of the game.

Drew Smith pitched the bottom of the seventh and tossed the first 1-2-3 inning for the Mets since the first inning. Joely Rodriguez started the bottom of the eighth and allowed the first two batters to reach, before striking out Marsh for the first out. Adam Ottavino then came on in relief of Rodriguez. Ottavino got the first batter he faced to ground into a double play to end the inning.

Edwin Diaz pitched the ninth inning in a non save situation. McNeil helped Diaz out with a great diving catch in right for the first out of the inning. Diaz followed with back-to-back strikeouts to seal the Mets 7-3 victory. Once again, the Mets avoided a three game losing streak.

Player of the Game: Brandon Nimmo

Nimmo had a great night at the plate for the Mets tonight. In addition to his three RBIs, he also had two runs scored. His final line was 2 for 4 with a home run and a walk. It was nice to see Nimmo have such a great game after he missed time at the end of last month due to a sprained wrist.

On Deck

The Mets and Angels play game two of their three-game series Saturday night in Anaheim. Game time is 10:07 p.m. EDT. Carlos Carrasco is scheduled to start for the Mets, while Michael Lorenzen is set to start for the Angels.