This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Pete Alonso smashed a two-run homer and Paul Blackburn pitched six solid innings in his New York debut as the Mets notched a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night at Anaheim, Calif.
Brandon Nimmo had three hits as New York won for the eighth time in its past 11 games. Harrison Bader and Tyrone Taylor each added two hits and the Mets had 13 overall.
Blackburn (5-2) was acquired from the Oakland Athletics at the trade deadline and gave up one run on six hits. He walked two and struck out six while improving to 5-0 all-time against the Angels.
Jose Butto struck out three in two perfect innings, and Phil Maton worked a perfect ninth in a non-save situation.
Mickey Moniak and Nolan Schanuel had two hits apiece for Los Angeles, which lost for the sixth time in the past eight contests.
Tyler Anderson (8-10) of the Angels allowed three runs and eight hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked two.
New York took the lead for good in the third inning on Alonso’s 23rd homer of the season. Nimmo singled and Alonso delivered a 421-foot blast off Anderson one out later to give the Mets a 3-1 lead.
In the sixth, Bader led off with a single against Mike Baumann and Francisco Lindor followed with a bunt single. One out later, J.D. Martinez delivered a single to make it a three-run margin as Lindor advanced to third.
After Alonso fanned for the second out, Mark Vientos hit a routine grounder to shortstop Zach Neto. But Neto fumbled the ball and Lindor scored to make it 5-1.
Earlier, New York took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Jose Iglesias led off with a double and scored on Francisco Alvarez’s one-out single.
Los Angeles tied the score in the bottom of the frame when Moniak hit a one-out single, moved to second when Neto was hit by a pitch, and scored on Jo Adell’s single.
Angels third baseman Luis Rengifo exited following the fourth inning after aggravating his ailing right wrist. He sat out Thursday’s game against the Colorado Rockies after reinjuring it Wednesday, and he struggled swinging the bat while striking out in both of his at-bats on Friday.
–Field Level Media
