Mark Canha and Brandon Nimmo each had two hits and drove in three runs, as the Mets snapped a two-game losing streak with a 7-3 win over the Angels Friday night in Anaheim. It was the 15th loss in the last 16 games for the Angels.
The Mets jumped on top in the second inning as they scored three runs, two of which came on a bases-loaded double by Canha. The Angels came back with two runs in the bottom of the second. Nimmo hit a solo shot in the fourth inning and he hit a two-run double in the sixth. Canha singled home Nimmo for the Mets’ final run.
Tylor Megill made his return from the IL and threw 64 pitches in 3.1 IP. David Peterson came on to give the Mets 2.1 IP. Given that he was stretched out, it was a surprise that Buck Showalter didn’t look for more length from Peterson. Instead, he used four pitchers to throw the final three frames, with Edwin Diaz coming on in a non-save situation and striking out two batters in the ninth to close out the game.
The Mets went 5-10 with RISP while the Angels were 0-7.
Gut Reaction: the offense keeps rolling. 13 hits. Nido is driving in runs also. The bullpen use was a head scratcher last night but I trust Showalter. Rodriguez roster spot is as slippery as second base last night. Escobar and Lindor slipped off it last night. Ottavino got another scoreless outing.
One more win will take the series and assure a .500 road trip. LGM
Clearly the Angels are a team that needs to be beat and a sweep is not out of the question. I have to laugh at the naysayers who see the Braves and Phillies on a hot streak and chipping away at the Mets lead saying the Mets are in trouble. Would like to see the Mets go on an extended winning streak but it’s a long season and picking off series wins on a regular basis is the tried and true way to get to the finish line. And we are doing this without arguably two of the best starting pitchers in all of baseball. Buck must have seen something in Megill that he needed to come out and while we can question his bullpen use, I have a hard time second guessing his moves, unlike his two predecessors who clearly were not qualified to manage. Canha has been a solid addition and with the exception of the long ball, has been what he was advertised to be. Escobar is warming up after a come to NY struggling hitting period, but he has been gold lately in the field. If anyone here thought Luis would be a starter, they are lying. Seems it’s time to lock up Nimmo. Is he not worth the 4/$80 they gave to Marte? He might jump at that deal. 7 game winner Carasco is on the bump tonight. Got to be feeling good about that.
The Mets are in a difficult stretch against better teams while the Phillies and Braves are in an incredibly easy stretch. The result could be that the Mets look up in July and the find those teams right on their heels. The way to hold them off is to win games, win series, and sweep when they get the chance.
This weekend is a golden chance. If they sweep the Angels, they turn the road trip into a plus two games on the ledger. This will serve as a smack on the nose to those pursuing teams. For them to be on winning streaks and still find themselves 8 and 10 games behind will be deflating… another small victory on the road to 162.
Don’t look now, but Carrasco is our ace!
We had a 10 game lead because we beat up the bad teams. Now it is the reverse. Must win 2-3 from the Angel’s. Sweep would be better.
If we want to win the division by 6 or 7 games, we need Scherzer and deGrom at full strength plus a good relief pitcher pickup by the deadline.