NEW YORK — Mike Trout had three chances to be the hero, and he came up empty.
Trout struck out twice with runners on – including a chance to break the game open in the fifth – and he popped out to end the game, sending the Angels to a 3-2 loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday night.
The Angels (49-52) have lost the first two games of this series, despite taking early leads in both.
After giving away an early four-run lead on Monday, they were up 2-0 in the fifth inning on Tuesday, with a chance to put the game away.
Trout was at the plate with runners at second and third and one out. It was Trout’s third look at Frankie Montas, including a single in the first inning.
Montas threw Trout a 95 mph fastball down the middle, and Trout swung through it for strike three.
Trout also struck out with a runner on in the seventh, whiffing on a slider over the middle.
Nolan Schanuel’s fourth hit of the game brought Trout up with the potential tying run at second and the go-ahead run at first in the ninth, but he popped out.
After Trout’s fifth-inning strikeout, Taylor Ward walked to load the bases, but Jo Adell hit a flyout.
Moments after that, the Mets scored three runs against Kyle Hendricks, taking a lead that stood through the final four innings of the game.
It was a disappointing ending for Hendricks after a strong start. Through the first four innings he gave up one hit and no runs.
Hendricks got the first two outs of the fifth, but he couldn’t get the third.
Hendricks gave up a two-run homer to No. 8 hitter Francisco Alvarez. Interim manager Ray Montgomery left him in to face leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo for the third time, and Nimmo delivered an RBI single to put the Mets ahead, 3-2.
Angels relievers, who have struggled lately, did well to keep the deficit there.
Ryan Zeferjahn had a particularly encouraging outing, striking out Nimmo, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso (with the bases loaded) in a scoreless seventh inning.
More to come on this story.
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