Griffin Canning’s strong start goes to waste in Mets’ walk-off win over Angels
Pete Alonso hit a tying double in the eighth inning and Rafael Ortega a winning single in the ninth to boost the New York Mets over the Angels 3-2 on Sunday, halting their four-game losing streak.
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and was 3 for 9 with three runs, two steals and an RBI in his first series since the Angels said he tore a ligament in his right elbow while pitching Wednesday.
Los Angeles, which won the first two games of the series, took a 2-1 lead in the eighth on Luis Rengifo’s solo homer off reliever Drew Smith.
Shohei Ohtani has another standout game, but Angels starting pitcher Chase Silseth leaves early after taking a throw to the head in a 5-3 win over Mets.
Francisco Lindor singled in the bottom half against Matt Moore, who entered the game with a 2.14 ERA in 39 appearances. The Angels elected to pitch to Alonso, who doubled on a 2-1 pitch for his 96th RBI.
“Before the at-bat we talked about being careful with him,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “Moore’s somebody who’s been our best, and trusted him. Didn’t work out.”
The Angels’ Griffin Canning struck out nine over seven innings, which tied his longest start this year.
Jeff McNeil scored from second base in the fourth inning on a three-hop infield hit by Francisco Álvarez. McNeil sped home when Rengifo stopped the ball behind shortstop on the outfield grass and threw home from his back.
Alonso was 2 for 4 and made a diving stop to rob Chad Wallach of a potential multi-RBI hit less than 24 hours after being hit on the back of the neck by a José Soriano slider.
“You just have to let the competitive nature of the game take over,” said Alonso, who passed concussion tests on Saturday and Sunday. “I just wanted to do the best I can to help the team win today. That’s it. Both sides of the ball, you can’t play scared. You can’t play too much in your own mind.”
Álvarez was grazed by a pitch from Reynaldo López (2-7) leading off the ninth. After an unsuccessful replay challenge by the Angels, DJ Stewart singled and Mark Vientos drew a four-pitch walk.
With no outs and a 2-2 count, Ortega lined a slider into short right field for the second walk-off hit of his big league career and first with the Mets, who are in last place in the NL East this late in a season for the first time since 2005.
Ortega has six RBIs and four stolen bases in 25 games since being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Aug. 1.
“Everybody’s trying to leave a good memory, whether it be Ortega, whether it be a Vientos or Álvarez,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said. “Everybody knows that there’s going to be some direction that the club will take and they want to be included.”
“It’s always fun to be in the big leagues,” said Ortega, who has played for six teams since 2012. “I’m appreciative of this really good opportunity that I’m in right here.”
Adam Ottavino (1-4) struck out one in a perfect ninth for his first win since last Oct. 4.
Angels GM Perry Minasian says Shohei Ohtani turned down a chance to undergo imaging on his cramped finger earlier this month.
David Peterson tied a season high with eight strikeouts over seven innings, his longest outing since June 26 last year. He allowed his only run on Wallach’s tying RBI groundout in the seventh. Peterson then stranded two runners by getting Andrew Velazquez to line out to Alonso.
“I really liked the way he finished the seventh inning, because things could have gotten away from him,” Showalter said. “He’s not peeking in the dugout for any help. It’s unfortunate that they scratched one across. Liked to have gotten the ‘W.’ ”
Injury updates: Nevin said right-handed pitcher Chase Silseth had a “pretty good lump on his noggin” and a headache but that he fared well on tests Saturday night, when he was hit by Trey Cabbage’s throw to third base in the fourth inning. … first baseman Nolan Schanuel (food poisoning) missed his second straight game. … first baseman C.J. Cron (back) remains sore and has not resumed baseball activities.
Up next for the Angels: Right-hander Lucas Giolito (7-10, 4.32) starts Monday night at Philadelphia, which goes with right-hander Taijuan Walker (13-5, 4.02).
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