Rafael Ortega wins single against Angels as David Peterson delivers best outing for Mets this season – The Denver Post

David Peterson has managed to maintain his confidence throughout a difficult season, but the Mets are hoping he can develop more with a few more good starts in August and September.

Peterson put in a solid performance against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field in the Mets’ 3-2 victory. He didn’t get the decision, but it was something of a win for the Mets who struggled to put their young arms on a consistent track.

With the game tied at 2-2, the Mets loaded the bases on right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (2-7). Rafael Ortega fielded one to right field that went straight for Hunter Renfroe, but the outfielder couldn’t carry it and pinch runner Tim Locastro scored easily.

Peterson had what could arguably be considered his best performance of the year, limiting the Angels to one earned run on three hits in seven innings. Peterson walked three and struck out eight, which tied his highest mark of the season. It was the first time this season that the southpaw had gone seven full innings, at least at the major league level.

Even more impressively, Peterson was able to pull off Shohei Ohtani all three times he faced the AL MVP contender. Ohtani terrorized the Mets all weekend, reaching base safely eight times through Sunday.

Right-hander Drew Smith also handled Ohtani with relative ease, but the batter ahead of him gave the reliever a hard time. With the score tied 1-1 in the eighth, Anaheim leader Luis Rengifo teeed off on a slider down the middle and burst over the fence.

Adam Ottavino (1-4) earned his first win of the season with a scoreless ninth to give the Mets (60-71) a chance to pull through and save the series. The Angels (63-68) won the first two games to clinch the series.

The Mets remained resilient, tying the game in the bottom of the inning. Francisco Lindor extended his hitting streak to 13 games with single reliever Matt Moore. Pete Alonso overtook him at home.

Moore replaced right-handed starter Griffin Canning, who held the Mets to one run in seven innings.

The Mets’ first run came in the form of a Rengifo defensive error in the fourth inning. With two outs and runners first and second, Francisco Alvarez hit a hard grounder in the middle to Rengifo, who made a tough save on the grass. However, Rengifo failed to make a throw to second base or first. Jeff McNeil briefly stopped in third and saw Rengifo was still on the ground trying to make a call and headed home. Rengifo’s throw was wide and McNeil came home safe and sound.

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