Angels’ bullpen loses another lead in loss to Mets

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Angels held a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning but lost it all when right-handed pitcher Walber Ureña left the game with an injury after a 103-mph line drive off the shin. The bullpen surrendered three earned runs in four innings, leading to a 4-3 loss to the New York Mets. Manager Kurt Suzuki said Ureña was taken out as a precaution, with initial reports indicating a bruise and no further testing needed. Ureña threw five innings, allowing two hits and striking out four but also walking three batters. Despite being in the strike zone 44% of the time, 60% of his pitches were strikes due to his ability to get batters to chase. The Angels’ bullpen has now allowed 28 earned runs in their last 28 1/3 innings pitched, resulting in an 8.89 ERA. For the season, their bullpen ERA stands at 5.69. The loss came after Suter, who relieved Ureña, allowed a pair of hits, including an RBI single by catcher Francisco Alvarez. Chase Silseth then came in, allowing a two-strike single to second baseman Marcus Semien, tying the game at 3-3. In the seventh inning, José Fermin gave up a solo shot to shortstop Ronny Mauricio, giving the Mets a one-run lead. The Angels’ bats were ineffective after the first inning, with only shortstop Zach Neto scoring after a hit by pitch and a stolen base. The Mets retired the remaining 21 hitters in order. The Angels struck out 14 times, with center fielder Mike Trout, third baseman Yoán Moncada, and right fielder Jo Adell each getting hat tricks. Manager Kurt Suzuki noted that the pitcher Christian Scott appeared to settle in and execute pitches better, attacking the strike zone effectively. The Angels have lost seven straight games and 11 of their last 12, with their record now at 12-21. The clubhouse remains focused, with players emphasizing accountability and a warrior mentality despite the losses.