ANAHEIM, Calif. — Taijuan Walker was the hardest-working pitcher on the Mets’ marathon West Coast swing that concluded Sunday night time.
Seldom does a pitcher obtain three begins on the identical street journey, however there was Walker dealing with the Angels to bookend a journey that started with him on the mound at Dodger Stadium on June 2.
“I really feel like that’s uncommon,” Walker mentioned after the Mets received 4-1 at Angel Stadium to salvage a 5-5 street journey. “However I needed it. I needed the duty. I needed to face the three greatest groups and go on the market and present what I may do.”
This was amongst his greatest. Walker struck out 10 batters and walked just one over six innings during which he allowed one earned run on six hits. It was a rebound from a shaky begin towards the Padres during which Walker allowed 4 earned runs over six innings. To start out the journey, Walker surrendered two earned runs over 5 ²/₃ innings towards the Dodgers.
The Angels related for 4 hits towards Walker within the first inning, however scored solely as soon as. After that inning, Walker adjusted.
“I feel in that first inning they could have had slightly tip on me,” Walker mentioned, including that he might have had the identical concern in San Diego. To rectify the pitch tipping he held his glove nearer to him after Sunday’s first inning.
Seth Lugo pitched 1 ¹/₃ scoreless innings in reduction earlier than Edwin Diaz obtained the ultimate 5 outs for his twelfth save in 15 probabilities. Diaz entered within the eighth with a runner on first base and struck out Mike Trout. After Diaz walked Anthony Rendon, he struck out Jared Walsh on a 101.6 mph fastball. Diaz then struck out the aspect within the ninth.
“[Diaz] had his big-boy stuff right this moment,” Pete Alonso mentioned. “His fastball was electrical and he was dotting up corners. It sucks for different hitters.”
Diaz had pitched solely twice beforehand on the journey and Monday’s break day afforded Buck Showalter the chance to increase his nearer. Diaz pitched for the Mariners within the AL West earlier in his profession, so his showdown with Trout was hardly a novelty.
“I understand how to pitch him,” Diaz mentioned. “I obtained a superb consequence towards him and right this moment I did my job.”
Alonso offered the Mets with an insurance coverage run the following inning by blasting his NL-leading 18th homer of the season. The blast was Alonso’s second in as many video games.
Starling Marte, who returned to the lineup after lacking three video games with left quadriceps soreness, stroked an RBI double within the third inning towards Patrick Sandoval that gave the Mets their first run. Brandon Nimmo singled main off the inning earlier than Marte hit a shot to right-center that introduced within the run.
J.D. Davis’s solo homer within the fourth gave the Mets a 2-1 lead. The blast was Davis’ second this season and first since April 24.
Marte stored working from second on Alonso’s grounder that Matt Duffy smothered on the outfield grass within the seventh and scored the Mets’ third run. It got here after Marte walked and superior to second on the again finish of a double-steal try — the lead runner, Nimmo, was nailed at third.
Trout — who homered twice the earlier night time in his return to the lineup from groin soreness that value him three video games — delivered an RBI single within the first that gave the Angels a 1-0 lead. Brandon Marsh had doubled main off the sport for the Angels. Rendon hit right into a double play or the inning may have been worse for Walker, who allowed consecutive singles to Walsh and Duffy later within the body.
Walker allowed an infield single to Marsh main off the third, however that was eradicated by a pickoff at first base. The Angels put two runners on base within the fourth, however Walker struck out Tyler Wade to flee earlier than retiring the aspect so as within the fifth and sixth innings.
Showalter was requested what he discovered about his workforce on this lengthy journey.
“I feel extra importantly it reaffirms what I feel,” he mentioned. “I've thought because the spring now we have obtained an opportunity to have a very good group of folks that care about competing.”
Post a Comment