Shohei Ohtani continued to impress at the plate as the Los Angeles Angels faced off against the New York Mets in an exciting showdown. However, the spotlight shifted momentarily to Mets star first baseman Pete Alonso after he was beaned once again. With tensions running high, the Mets will be looking to avoid a sweep in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
Sunday’s game will see left-hander David Peterson on the mound for the Mets, while the Angels will start right-hander Griffin Canning. Ohtani stole the show on Saturday night, contributing two hits, two runs scored, and two stolen bases to help the Angels secure a 5-3 victory. In the first two games of the series, Ohtani has been outstanding, with three hits, three runs scored, five walks, and two stolen bases. This impressive performance comes on the heels of the announcement that Ohtani suffered a torn UCL in his right elbow while pitching against the Cincinnati Reds.
Although Ohtani’s outstanding performance at the plate was initially the focus of Saturday’s game, it was overshadowed in the eighth inning when Alonso was hit on the back of the neck by a curveball. Alonso immediately sprang up and appeared to exchange words with Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe as benches and dugouts cleared. No punches were thrown, and the game continued without further incident.
O’Hoppe clarified that he was merely trying to defuse the situation and assured Alonso that they had no intention of hitting him. Alonso, who left the game for pinch runner Danny Mendick and passed the initial concussion protocol, was not available for comment after the game. This unfortunate incident adds to Alonso’s growing list of beanings, as he leads the major leagues with 17 hit-by-pitches this season and 29 since the start of 2022. He previously missed 10 games in June after being hit on the wrist by a pitch from the Atlanta Braves’ Charlie Morton.
Mets manager Buck Showalter expressed his frustration over the repeated beanings, calling for consequences and action from the league office. Showalter emphasized the need to address this issue, particularly concerning Alonso’s frequent targeting. The safety of players should be a top priority, and measures must be taken to prevent these dangerous situations.
In terms of pitching, Peterson will be seeking redemption after his last start in which he surrendered four runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves. However, he did earn a win in his previous appearance against the Angels on June 10, 2022, allowing only one run in 2 2/3 innings of relief. On the other hand, Canning will be making his first start since July 25, aiming to build on his recent relief performance where he gave up just two runs over five innings.
As the series finale approaches, all eyes will be on the response from the Mets and their treatment of Alonso following the recent beaning. The game promises to be an exciting conclusion to the showdown between the Angels and Mets, with the Mets fighting to avoid a sweep and the Angels attempting to maintain their winning momentum.
