Diaz Holds the Line as Mets Top Angels

METS 4 - ANGELS 1

With the Atlanta Braves breathing down their collective necks, the Mets needed to a win in Anaheim not only to finish their west coast trip at .500, but to get themselves back on track.

That is exactly what happened on Sunday night. The Mets topped the Angels 4-1, winning the series, and ending their long road trip on a high note.

J.D. Davis and Pete Alonso both went yard for the Amazin's, while Starling Marte made his return to the lineup after suffering a quad injury last week, with a pair of hits, including an RBI double in the third inning that tied the game.

Davis' home run in the fourth gave New York a 2-1 advantage. They would tack on in the seventh when Alonso reached on an infield single, scoring Marte to make it 3-1.

Taijuan Walker was solid on the bump for the Mets, allowing a run on six hits with 10 strikeouts over six innings. He earned his fourth win of the season.

However it was the effort of Edwin Diaz that really stood out. He came in for Seth Lugo in the eighth inning after Lugo walked Brandon Marsh.  Facing superstar Mike Trout as the tying run, Diaz overpowered the slugger, striking him out swinging on four pitches. After losing Anthony Rendon to a walk, Diaz came back to strike out Jared Walsh swinging to get out of the jam.

Alonso would tack on some needed insurance with a solo homer to left to make it 4-1. Finally, Diaz proceeded to set down the Angels quietly in the ninth all on strikeouts to notch his 12th save of the season.

At 40-22 the Mets return to Citi Field on Tuesday to face the Milwaukee Brewers.