In a thrilling extra-inning showdown, Oswald Peraza delivered a clutch two-out RBI single in the 10th inning, snapping the Los Angeles Angels' seven-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday night. The win was a much-needed boost for the Angels, who had been struggling to find their rhythm.
The drama unfolded in the top of the 10th when Jorge Soler drew a leadoff walk from Mets reliever Austin Warren (0-1). Jo Adell followed with a single, loading the bases with no outs. Warren appeared to be on the verge of escaping the jam, getting Josh Lowe and Vaughn Grissom on flyouts, but Peraza had other plans. With two strikes against him, Peraza dropped an 0-2 curveball into left-center field, driving in the winning run and sending the Angels' dugout into celebration.
Los Angeles' bullpen, which has faced its share of struggles this season, stepped up when it mattered most. Sam Bachman struck out three over 1 2/3 scoreless innings, while Ryan Zeferjahn (2-1) tossed two shutout frames in the ninth and 10th to earn the win. Zeferjahn navigated a tense bottom of the 10th, inducing a double play from Bo Bichette and getting Francisco Alvarez to pop out after an intentional walk to Juan Soto.
Angels starter Reid Detmers was sharp early, limiting the Mets to just one run and four hits through six innings. However, the Mets mounted a rally in the seventh. Mark Vientos doubled, Marcus Semien singled, and Andy Ibáñez's sacrifice fly cut the lead to 3-2. Tyrone Taylor's RBI single tied the game, and infield singles from Austin Slater and Ronny Mauricio loaded the bases. But Bachman entered and delivered a clutch performance, getting Bichette to ground out to third baseman Peraza for a force at home, then striking out Soto to end the threat.
The Mets had their own ace on the mound in Nolan McLean, who was one strike away from escaping a second-and-third, one-out jam in the fourth. But Grissom came through with a two-run single, giving the Angels a 3-1 lead. Los Angeles had taken an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on consecutive two-out singles from Nolan Schanuel, Soler, and Adell, with Schanuel scoring just before Soler was thrown out at third by Slater. Plate umpire John Tumpane ruled Schanuel had touched the plate before the tag, a call the Mets did not challenge despite replays suggesting otherwise.
The Mets tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning, setting the stage for a back-and-forth battle that ultimately ended with Peraza's heroics. For the Angels, this win could be the spark they need to turn their season around, while the Mets will look to regroup after a tough extra-inning loss.