Zach Neto’s three-run home run lifts Angels to 5-4 win over Mets despite JD Martinez’s grand slam
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Zach Neto drove in a career-high four runs, including three with a game-tying home run in the seventh inning, and the Los Angeles Angels rallied for a 5-4 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday night despite J.D. Martinez’s second grand slam in eight games.
Neto connected to a cutter by Huascar Brazobán (1-3) and placed him in the Mets’ bullpen in left field to put the Halos back on top.
Michael Stefanic led off the rally with a two-out hit and Nolan Schanuel walked to set up Neto’s team-high 17th home run of the season. It came on the eighth pitch of the at-bat and after the Angels shortstop committed three straight errors.
“To finally be able to make a good pitch and drive it in and be a big hero for us, that was a big moment,” said Neto, who also had an RBI single in the fifth inning as the Angels snapped a three-game losing streak.
Matt Moore (5-2) got the win and Ben Joyce retired all four batters he faced in 1 1/3 innings for his first major league save. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out Martinez for the final out on a 104.7 mph fastball, the fastest pitch in the major leagues this season. According to Sportradar, it was the sixth-fastest pitch since 2009.
Joyce has a 23-inning scoreless streak and hasn’t allowed a run in 18 straight outings dating back to June 14.
“It was another level out there. It was a 0-2 pitch. You just had to try to let him eat and I ended up getting a good result,” Joyce said.
Martinez said, “I’m going to be all over Instagram throwing strikes” when he heard it was the fastest pitch of the season.
The Angels led 2-0 in the seventh inning after starting pitcher Jose Soriano pitched six scoreless innings and Kevin Pillar made two great defensive plays. But the Mets loaded the bases with one out and Martinez hit a low, inside sinker from Hunter Strickland over the wall in center field.
It was Martinez’s 10th career Grand Slam. He also hit one on July 26 vs. Atlanta.
The Mets’ designated hitter is hitting .324 (12-for-37) with 11 RBIs in his last 10 games.
“Anytime we get a late lead, we trust our relievers, but it happens,” Martinez said. “We had a chance to tie it in the eighth inning, but they (Angels relievers) held us in check.”
Soriano had six strikeouts and allowed five hits with two walks. The right-hander has a 2.98 ERA in his last eight starts, with the Angels going 6-2 in those games.
Pillar made an impact on the opening play of the game with a diving catch on the warning line in center field on a ball hit by Francisco Lindor. In the fourth inning, Pillar retired Jeff McNeil at second base when he tried to single.
Pillar also showed plenty of talent on offense. He hit a two-out single to left field in the first inning to score Neto.
“He’s a big part of it and he’s aware of everything that’s going on in the game,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “I’m not surprised. I’m just glad he noticed it, because you never know what could have happened in the first inning.”
TRAINERS’ ROOM
Angels: IF Luis Rengifo was placed on injured list for the second time this season due to inflammation of the right wrist.
FARM REPORT
Mets pitcher Brandon Sproat is expected to be promoted to Triple-A Syracuse after a dominant outing for Double-A Binghamton on Friday night. The right-hander, a second-round pick in the 2023 amateur draft, struck out the last 11 batters he faced in five innings against New Hampshire. Sproat allowed two hits and struck out 13 batters overall.
FOLLOWING
Mets left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana (6-6, 3.89 ERA) has won both of his starts since the All-Star break. Angels right-handed pitcher Griffin Canning (3-10, 5.25 ERA) is 0-2 in his last six outings.
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