ANAHEIM, Calif.—Griffin Canning pitched five stingy innings for his first win in six weeks, and the Los Angeles Angels held off the New York Mets 3–2 on Sunday.
Matt Thaiss and Kevin Pillar each had a sacrifice fly for the Angels, who knocked the Mets out of playoff position in the National League by winning the final two in a three-game series.
Los Angeles’ bullpen gave up two hits over four scoreless innings, with Roansy Contreras working a perfect ninth to earn his second save.
The struggling Angels traded away closer Carlos Estévez and effective reliever Luis García ahead of last week’s deadline. But hard-throwing youngster Ben Joyce got four outs for his first career save Saturday, and more late-inning success for the bullpen followed Sunday.
“It felt a little bit sad because of all of the trades that were made, but at the same time, we told each other that we have to keep playing good baseball, and we gave each other good vibes,” Contreras said through a translator. “We have just kept rolling.”
New York has dropped consecutive one-run games for the first time all season.
Canning (4–10) permitted three hits and four walks, while striking out a season-high eight, to win for the first time since June 24. He yielded two runs, only one earned.
“I think I was in a good spot mentally, not trying to be so perfect and probably hiding the ball a bit better,” Canning said.
Jose Quintana (6–7) allowed three runs over five innings for the Mets, who are 1–2 to start a zig-zagging, 10-game, four-city road trip. They head to St. Louis on Monday for a makeup game against the Cardinals.
“It was tough for me, especially commanding the ball in the beginning,” Quintana said after issuing four walks. “Too many times I was behind in the count, and I feel off with my mechanics. During the game, I made the adjustments, but I gave up a couple of runs.”
The Mets took a 1–0 lead in the second on an RBI single from Harrison Bader before the Angels scored twice in the bottom half. Taylor Ward came home on a Quintana wild pitch, and Thaiss had a sacrifice fly to score Jo Adell.
The Angels moved in front 3–1 in the third on a sacrifice fly from Pillar.
New York pulled within a run in the fifth when Francisco Lindor singled to score Jeff McNeil.
With the Angels leading 3–2 in the seventh, Lindor hit a drive down the right-field line that was initially ruled a home run before umpires conferred and called it a foul ball. A replay review confirmed the ball was foul, and Lindor flied out on the next pitch.
The Mets had another scoring chance in the eighth with runners at first and third and one out against right-hander Mike Baumann before Mark Vientos grounded into a double play.
Trainer’s Room
Mets: Right fielder Starling Marte (knee) is headed to Class A Port St. Lucie, Fla., to continue his rehab program and could be ready for a minor-league game this week. ... Right-hander Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder) walked three in two-thirds of an inning during a rehab outing for Double-A Binghamton, N.Y. ... Right-hander Reed Garrett (elbow) gave up three runs on four hits and a walk while getting only one out in the same game. ... Right-hander Dedniel Núñez (forearm) played catch over the weekend.Up Next
Mets: Left-hander Sean Manaea (7–4, 3.50 earned-run average) is scheduled to start Monday in St. Louis, the makeup of a May 8 postponement because of inclement weather.Angels: Right-hander Davis Daniel (1–2, 4.91) is set to take the mound Tuesday in New York against the Yankees.
