Zach Neto’s go-ahead three-run homer capped a wild seventh inning Saturday night as the Los Angeles Angels edged the New York Mets 5-4 in the middle game of their interleague series in Anaheim, Calif.
The Angels squandered a 2-0 lead before snapping a three-game losing streak. The Mets fell for just the fourth time in 12 games.
J.D. Martinez hit a grand slam in the top of the seventh against Hunter Strickland before the Angels built a two-out rally against Huascar Brazoban (1-3).
The right-hander opened the bottom half of the inning by striking out Jo Adell and Matt Thaiss. Michael Stefanic singled and Nolan Schanuel walked before Neto won an eight-pitch battle with Brazoban by homering over the left field wall.
The Angels’ Matt Moore allowed Mark Vientos to double leading off the eighth and retired the next two batters before Ben Joyce came on to get Tyrone Taylor on a groundout.
Joyce then closed out his first career save with a perfect ninth inning in which he benefited from a defensive gem by the shortstop Neto, who barehanded Brandon Nimmo’s grounder and threw him out by a half-step for the second out.
Joyce struck out Martinez on a 105 mph fastball to end the game.
Moore (5-2) was deemed the most effective reliever and credited with the win despite entering with the lead.
Neto went 2-for-3 and also drove in the Angels’ second run with a fifth-inning single. Kevin Pillar opened the scoring with a first-inning RBI single, while Stefanic finished with two hits.
Martinez and Francisco Lindor had two hits apiece for the Mets.
Starters Jose Soriano of Los Angeles and David Peterson of New York had strong outings squandered by their bullpens. Soriano allowed five hits and two walks while striking out six over six scoreless innings. Peterson gave up two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four over six innings.
–Field Level Media
