Mark Vientos hits two home runs as Mets take series from Angels
The Mets' Mark Vientos celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday in Anaheim, Calif. Credit: AP/Jessie Alcheh
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mark Vientos hit two homers and drove in four runs and right-hander Clay Holmes allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings as the Mets beat the Los Angeles Angels, 5-1, on Sunday.
Holmes (4-2) allowed four hits with three walks and six strikeouts as the Mets took two of three games from the Angels and won a series for just the second time since April 7. The Mets also won two of three against Minnesota (April 21-23).
The Mets used Bo Bichette at shortstop Sunday, one day after Ronny Mauricio fractured his left thumb and was placed on the injured list. Shortstop Francisco Lindor also is on the IL with a calf strain.
Jorge Soler had an RBI single for the Angels and right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (2-1) gave up two runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings with three walks and six strikeouts. Los Angeles had ended a season-high seven-game losing streak Saturday. The Angels are 2-12 since April 18.
The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Zach Neto and Mike Trout worked walks to open the game against Holmes and Soler hit a one-out run-scoring single to center.
As Holmes settled in, the Mets grabbed a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Vientos hit a towering two-run homer 427 feet, halfway up the rock pile beyond the center field fence.
The Angels were in the game until the eighth inning when Tayler Saucedo hit Brett Baty with his first pitch of the inning and was replaced by Nick Sandlin. Carson Benge had an RBI double to right for a 3-1 lead and Vientos followed with another two-run home run, this time to left.
The Mets' outfield made a pair of spectacular plays, with left fielder MJ Melendez making a diving catch in the sixth inning and Benge making a diving catch in right for the second out of the ninth.
The Mets will go with an opener ahead of David Peterson to begin their series in Colorado against RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (3-1, 2.84 ERA) on Monday. The game has been moved up to 5:40 p.m. Eastern due to the potential for inclement weather.
