Mets Beat Angels 4-1 Behind A Stellar Outing From Taijuan Walker

Mets RHP Taijuan Walker (Photo Credits to Jayne-Oncea-USA Today Sports)

The New York Mets beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-1 tonight at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA to take two out of three games series as well as a 5-5 West Coast road trip and improved their record to 40-22.

The offense did not much for the first two innings, but in the top of the third CF Brandon Nimmo led off with a single and RF Starling Marte followed with a RBI double to tie the game. 

In the following inning, DH J.D. Davis came through with a solo homer to give New York a 2-1 lead

After scoreless innings in the top of the fifth and sixth, Nimmo led off the top of the seventh with a hit by pitch and Marte followed with a walk.

SS Francisco Lindor then lined out and then Alonso came up and hit an infield single to 2B Matt Duffy who made a poor throw at home which allowed Marte to score.

After a scoreless top of the eighth, Alonso capped off the scoring in the top of the ninth with a solo homer for his 18th homer of the year and second consecutive game with a homer to bring in a much needed insurance run.

RHP Taijaun Walker had a rough bottom of the first after he gave up a lead-off double to LF Brandon Marsh and then a RBI single to superstar RF Mike Trout, but did not allow any more runs in the inning.

Walker settled down after that and got into a nice groove and retired the seven hitters he faced.

His final line was six innings, one run, one walk and a season-high 10 strikeouts as well as a season-high of 18 swings and misses.

Walker had command of all his pitches especially his splitter.

He picked up his fourth win and lowered his ERA to 3.08.

RHP Seth Lugo followed and had a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh.

Lugo came back out to start the bottom of the eighth and retired pinch-hitter Luis Rengifo on a ground-out to start the inning and then walked Marsh and was taken out.

RHP Edwin Diaz came in next and blew away Trout and 1B Jared Walsh on 100+ mph fastballs working around a walk to 3B Anthony Rendon and struck out Walsh on a 102 mph fastball.

Diaz's dominance continued in the bottom of the ninth striking out the side and ended the game with four consecutive strikeouts. He struck out five of the six batters he faced and picked up his 12th save.

The Mets are off tomorrow and return to action on Tuesday, June 14th at home against the Milwaukee Brewers at 7:10 p.m.