Mets' young trio provides necessary spark in another win over Angels
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In 2022, MLB Pipeline tabbed the Mets' three best prospects as Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio, who along with Mark Vientos broke into the majors around the same time. Francisco Lindor coined the group the 'Baby Mets.'
A few years later — after demotions, inconsistencies, injuries and flashes — they sure look grown up.
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Bottles gone and bats looking ready to break out, the Mets' young trio were at the center of their one big, three-run inning that became the only offense they needed in a 3-2 victory over the Angels in front of a sellout crowd of 43,055 at Citi Field on Tuesday.
The Mets (58-44) have won three straight after losing three straight and claimed the series before Wednesday's finale.
4 Francisco Alvarez celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning of the Mets' 3-2 home win over the Angels on July 22, 2025.
Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
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Frankie Montas was decent in letting up two runs in 5 ²/₃ innings — though recording 17 outs nearly qualifies as a marathon for this Mets rotation.
Three relievers — highlighted by excellence from once-again-Met Rico Garcia and clutch work from Ryne Stanek, who induced a game-ending pop-out from Mike Trout with the potential tying run on second — were better in covering 3 ¹/₃ scoreless innings.
Best for the Mets was the group of friends who have overcome a well-publicized option (in Alvarez's case), a roller-coaster ride that has included plenty of frustrations (in Baty's case) and a torn ACL (in Mauricio's case).
4 Ronny Mauricio reacts after he hits a single in the fifth inning.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
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4 Brett Baty smiles after recording an out in the eighth inning of the Mets' win over the Angels.
Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The Mets entered the fifth inning down two runs before the trio went to work.
With two outs, Baty — looking more comfortable by the day and who received a vote of confidence from David Stearns on Monday — slugged a double that reached the wall in right-center.
Alvarez — summoned Monday after a torrid stretch at Triple-A Syracuse — continued looking like the Alvarez of old in working a deep at-bat before getting a seventh-pitch fastball that was thrown down the middle. Alvarez hammered it over the left-field wall for a two-run homer that tied the game. As if the might were not evident enough, Alvarez flexed his right bicep as he came around third base.
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Mauricio — whose progress also was highlighted by Stearns — then stroked a single and easily stole second base. A two-out hit from Brandon Nimmo drove in what became the game-winning run.
A day after coming back from a four-run hole, the Mets completed another comeback because their bullpen was untouched.
4 Frankie Montas reacts as he walks back to the dugout after he is pulled from the game by Carlos Mendoza in the sixth inning of the Mets' win over the Angels.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Garcia — who had been DFA'd by the Mets on July 11, signed with the Yankees July 14, pitched with the Yankees on Friday, was DFA'd by the Yankees on Saturday and was reclaimed by the Mets on Monday — recorded three large outs, including a strikeout of Trout.
Reed Garrett followed without allowing a run and Stanek recorded his third save of the season, Edwin Díaz unavailable on what would have been a third straight day of work.
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NEW YORK — Toward the end of the New York Mets' first series after the trade deadline, things got so out of hand that backup catcher Luis Torrens needed to pitch in the ninth inning. The Mets lost to the San Francisco Giants, 12-4, on Sunday afternoon, dropping two of the three games in the series. New York (63-48) has lost five of its last six games. Advertisement Here are takeaways from the Mets' latest dud, beginning with thoughts on the lack of length they are getting out of their starting rotation. Signing Frankie Montas is the move that hasn't worked out. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns and his front office just executed a strong trade deadline. Over his two seasons, his moves have largely panned out. One that looks questionable: Signing Montas for two years, $34 million. Through seven starts, Montas, who missed nearly half the season because of a lat strain, owns a 6.68 ERA. He has yet to complete six innings in a start. He has recorded an out beyond the fifth inning just twice. Montas offered another clunker on Sunday when he allowed seven runs, seven hits and two walks in just four innings. Manager Carlos Mendoza asked him to pitch into the fifth inning, but Montas walked the only batter he faced in the frame on five pitches. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was noncommittal when asked if Montas' role going forward was up for discussion. 'I mean, we just got done with the game here,' Mendoza said. 'He's got to be better. He knows that. So, yeah. We just got done with the game.' Other options would include Paul Blackburn and top prospects Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat. Things spiraled in consecutive innings for Montas, and he couldn't make it stop in time. He threw 29 pitches in the third inning. He threw 27 more in the fourth inning. Rafi's homer has us (and that Mets fan) FIRED up 😤 — SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 3, 2025 In the third inning, Rafael Devers supplied the big blow with a three-run home run. The damage took longer in the fourth inning, and it wasn't all Montas' fault. With runners on first and third and one out, first baseman Pete Alonso fumbled a grounder then attempted to get an out at home plate instead of walking to first base for the force play. It was too late for a play at home. The runner scored easily. Two batters later, Heliot Ramos beat out a well-placed soft grounder for an RBI single. But then Devers delivered an RBI-single that required little fortune; he hit Montas's waist-high splitter 105.7 mph. Advertisement Montas' ERA is 6.68. His issues on Sunday looked familiar. He failed to generate swings-and-misses when he needed them and left too many pitches over the middle of the strike zone. A great bullpen matters less when starters fail to do their part. The Mets wanted length from Montas. Instead, they got it from reliever Austin Warren, whom they recalled ahead of the game. Warren pitched four scoreless innings. After the trade deadline, the Mets' bullpen features a bunch of one-inning leverage relievers. Reed Garrett is now being asked to get more than three outs sometimes. A couple of others can do it, too. But the Mets don't carry a traditional long reliever and have not committed to piggybacking starters. The best outcomes include a starter supplying length or at least going five innings with a lead so that the Mets deploy their bullpen the way it was designed. Montas failed to do either. The situation puts the Mets in a bind. Mets expect things to improve with Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga no longer facing strict limitations on their respective innings during starts. However, Senga pitched poorly on Saturday, lasting only four innings and allowing four runs. The Mets managed to win the game behind strong relief outings from Garrett, Gregory Soto, Tyler Rogers and Brooks Raley (and the offense broke things open late). It's not practical for New York to empty its bullpen like that every game. They need more from their starters. 'It's a tough spot,' Mendoza said. 'We did it (Saturday), but I don't know if we had enough to get through nine innings. It starts with starting pitching. We were able to match up yesterday and ended up winning the game but back-to-back games, that's almost impossible.' The Mets' struggles against left-handed pitchers are a concern. After performing well against left-handers last year (fifth-best OPS in MLB) and through the first month of this season (third-best OPS), the Mets haven't hit them much since May. They entered Sunday's game with just a .622 OPS against lefties over the last three months, better than only four other teams. Their problems have continued so far in August. Advertisement Making his second career start, Giants lefty Carson Whisenhunt limited the Mets to just two runs (one earned) and three hits in 5 1/3 innings. On Friday, left-hander Robbie Ray surrendered just one run and four hits in seven innings against the Mets, who lost that game, 4-3. Since May and heading into Sunday's game, Pete Alonso had a .608 OPS against left-handers while Francisco Lindor's OPS against them in the span sat at .603. Both figures defy the career norms for both players. Lindor hit a solo home run against Whisenhunt in the second inning. 'We're looking deep into it because last year we crushed lefties,' Mendoza said. 'For some reason, this year we haven't been able to do damage against those guys. I know that's gotta reverse. Not only are they really good hitters, against lefties they are pretty good. So we are expecting to see a trend here where it will switch. But it's hard for us to wrap our heads around what's going on here with the lefties. But I feel good with our chances against anybody, and definitely against lefties.'
