Bullpen avenges itself in walk-off win over Mets

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Bullpen avenges itself in walk-off win over Mets

Bullpen avenges itself in walk-off win over Mets

The bullpen delivers a much-needed shutdown performance in the Angels' 4-3 walk-off win over the New York Mets.

Bullpen avenges itself in walk-off win over Mets

The bullpen delivers a much-needed shutdown performance in the Angels' 4-3 walk-off win over the New York Mets.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — In a season where the bullpen has often been the Angels' Achilles' heel, Saturday night offered a glimpse of what could be. With the game on the line and a seven-game losing streak hanging over their heads, the relievers delivered a redemptive, shutdown performance that led to a thrilling 4-3 walk-off win over the New York Mets.

The drama began in the seventh inning. Left-hander Reid Detmers had battled hard but left the mound with the bases loaded, one out, and the game tied. It was a moment that could have unraveled everything — but instead, it sparked a turning point.

Enter right-hander Sam Bachman. Facing the heart of the Mets' lineup, he induced a ground ball from third baseman Bo Bichette to Oswald Peraza, who fired home for the forceout. Then, with the crowd holding its breath, Bachman struck out superstar Juan Soto to escape the jam. He returned for a flawless eighth inning, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts, and lowered his ERA to a sharp 3.18.

"He's been great," manager Kurt Suzuki said. "He's done everything we've asked — one inning, two innings, back-to-back days. He's done it all."

That trust was crucial for a bullpen that entered the game with the second-worst ERA in baseball at 5.69. But on this night, the narrative flipped.

In the ninth, Ryan Zeferjahn took the ball with a mission. "I want the ball whenever my name's called," he said. "I was going out there until we won the game." He delivered a clean, one-two-three inning, setting the stage for heroics in the 10th.

After the bullpen held the Mets scoreless, the Angels' offense found its moment. With the game tied and the pressure mounting, third baseman Oswald Peraza stepped to the plate and ripped a walk-off single, sending the Angels to a 4-3 victory and snapping their seven-game skid.

"I'm just really proud of them," Suzuki said. "They grinded, they battled. We faced good pitching tonight, but they kept having good at-bats. Finally pulling it off was awesome."

For a bullpen seeking redemption, Saturday night was more than a win — it was a statement. And for the Angels, it's a spark they hope to carry forward.

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