The Mets secured a 5-1 victory over the Angels, marking a positive start to May after a rough April. Despite injuries to their shortstop, the team's pitching and late-game offense showed significant improvement.
Key points
Mets won 5-1 against Angels
Quality pitching from Clay Holmes
Mets improved after a poor April
Injuries affected shortstop position
MetsAngels
After an atrocious month of April, the Mets opened the second full month of the season on a far more positive note.
Despite losing their second shortstop to injury, the Mets continued to get quality starting pitching from Clay Holmes and saw their offense roar to life late in a 5-1 victory over the Angels on Sunday afternoon at Angel Stadium.
The 9-9-9 challenge from Willets Point Brewery is displayed at Citi Field, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The challenge is to drink the 9 mini beers and the 9 mini hot dogs in 9 innings.
Cave Dabreo, poses for a photograph with his vegetarian empanada, at Citi Field, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Dabreo, of Dunellen, NJ, is the owner of Eat the Cave.
Willets Point Brewery's backyard burger is displayed at Citi Field, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The food was displayed for the What's New at Citi Field media event.
Blue and orange sprinkles top the home-run apple pie shake from Shake Shack is displayed at Citi Field, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The food was displayed for the What's New at Citi Field media event.
Q&A
What was the score of the Mets vs Angels game?
The Mets won the game against the Angels with a score of 5-1.
Who pitched for the Mets in their recent win over the Angels?
Clay Holmes provided quality starting pitching for the Mets in their victory over the Angels.
How did the Mets perform in April before their win against the Angels?
The Mets had an atrocious month of April but opened May with a much-improved performance.
What challenges did the Mets face during the game against the Angels?
The Mets faced the challenge of losing their second shortstop to injury during the game.
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Adam Rickman speaks to the press during a What's New at Citi Field media event, Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
The kimchi reuben by The Queensboro is displayed at Citi Field, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The food was displayed for the What's New at Citi Field media event.
The strawberry short-stop dip cheesecake, by Mr. & Mrs. Met's Candy Shop, is displayed at Citi Field, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The food was displayed for the What's New at Citi Field media event.
The Mets held their What's New at Citi Field media event, Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
1 / 8
See new food options at Citi Field in 2026 in photos
The 9-9-9 challenge from Willets Point Brewery is displayed at Citi Field, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The challenge is to drink the 9 mini beers and the 9 mini hot dogs in 9 innings.
1 / 8
See new food options at Citi Field in 2026 in photos
The 9-9-9 challenge from Willets Point Brewery is displayed at Citi Field, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The challenge is to drink the 9 mini beers and the 9 mini hot dogs in 9 innings.
2 / 8
See new food options at Citi Field in 2026 in photos
Cave Dabreo, poses for a photograph with his vegetarian empanada, at Citi Field, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Dabreo, of Dunellen, NJ, is the owner of Eat the Cave.
3 / 8
See new food options at Citi Field in 2026 in photos
Willets Point Brewery's backyard burger is displayed at Citi Field, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The food was displayed for the What's New at Citi Field media event.
4 / 8
See new food options at Citi Field in 2026 in photos
Blue and orange sprinkles top the home-run apple pie shake from Shake Shack is displayed at Citi Field, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The food was displayed for the What's New at Citi Field media event.
5 / 8
See new food options at Citi Field in 2026 in photos
Adam Rickman speaks to the press during a What's New at Citi Field media event, Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
6 / 8
See new food options at Citi Field in 2026 in photos
The kimchi reuben by The Queensboro is displayed at Citi Field, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The food was displayed for the What's New at Citi Field media event.
7 / 8
See new food options at Citi Field in 2026 in photos
The strawberry short-stop dip cheesecake, by Mr. & Mrs. Met's Candy Shop, is displayed at Citi Field, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The food was displayed for the What's New at Citi Field media event.
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See new food options at Citi Field in 2026 in photos
The Mets held their What's New at Citi Field media event, Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
With the win, the Mets won their first series of the month, improving to 12-22, as they worked through the first set in their nine-game west coast road trip which continues on Monday against the Rockies in Denver. The series opener between those two sides has already been pushed up to 5:40 p.m. due to the potential for frigid, damp weather.
As the Mets opened their journey on a high note, here are the three things that stood out from the series finale:
Clay Holmes continues to be top notch
New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) delivers during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels on May 3, 2026, at Angel Stadium.
New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) delivers during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels on May 3, 2026, at Angel Stadium.
It looked like Clay Holmes' seventh start had gone off the rails in the early going.
The Mets veteran right-hander walked the first two batters of the game and allowed a one-out single to Jorge Soler as the Mets dropped quickly into a 1-0 deficit in the first inning. Holmes needed 27 pitches to get through the frame.
But Holmes leaned into his bread-and-butter - his sinker - to work efficiently from there. He only needed 37 pitches to get through the next three innings, facing one batter over the minimum, and allowing the Mets to jump out in front.
"Before you know it, he's able to get into those middle innings," Carlos Mendoza told reporters. "Kept making pitches and for him to go back out for the seventh, he's just on another level right now, physically, mentally, the way he's making adjustments in games, the way he's trusting his pitches, trusting his defense when he needs to."
The right-hander finished with one earned run allowed on four hits and three walks in 6⅔ innings while striking out six. It was his third straight quality start as he improved to 4-2 and trimmed his ERA to 1.69 — second-best in the National League. Seven of Holmes' 14 whiffs came on his sinker on Sunday.
"I knew I would have to expand the arsenal and so there's some focus there," Holmes said of his second year as starter. "I think more than anything this year, it's just the confidence for the sinker. I can still pitch off it, it's just a mentality thing, just kind of attacking with the sinker."
Holmes' latest sterling outing was all the more important given what's ahead. Mendoza said that the Mets will go with an opener ahead of David Peterson for Monday's outing against the Rockies.
New York Mets first baseman Mark Vientos (27) runs after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels on May 3, 2026, at Angel Stadium.
New York Mets first baseman Mark Vientos (27) runs after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels on May 3, 2026, at Angel Stadium.
After Soto went down, Mark Vientos floundered to a weeklong slump that saw him go 0-for-23. Now, as the calendar flips to May, Vientos seems to be finding his form..
Sunday was Vientos' biggest performance of the season as he put the Mets ahead with a mammoth 427-foot two-run home run to center field in the fourth inning off Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz. He added some insurance with his fourth home run of the season - another two-run shot - on a belt-high slider in the top of the eighth inning.
He also had a double and a run in Saturday's 4-3 extra-inning loss.
"I think the work behind the scenes is showing, for sure, the past two games," Vientos told reporters. "I've been seeing the ball great all season. I've just been missing stuff. I didn't miss these two pitches today."
In the last four series, Vientos has upped his OPS from .616 to .737 by going 9-for-30 with two home runs, two doubles, six RBI, four runs and 10 strikeouts.
"We've seen it. We haven't seen that in a while, but when he gets hot, he can carry a team," Mendoza said. "That's the power and the hitter he is capable of. I'm glad that he came through for us today."
Carson Benge's boost
As Carson Benge has looked to get comfortable in his first major league season, the one thing that has been a constant positive for the 23-year-old has been his defense.
Benge has boasted a +3 outs above average and showcased an arm in the top 2 percent of the league. On Sunday with the Angels looking to mount a ninth-inning rally with a runner on first base and one out, Benge sprinted to his left and went full extension on a dive to rob Vaughn Grissom of extra bases in right field.
It also saved Carlos Mendoza from deploying closer Devin Williams and put the finishing touches on a win.
"He was pretty good today," Mendoza said. "That play the last inning, who knows, that ball falls, you got Devin going, it's a completely different inning.
"For me, offensively, the couple of walks are a really good sign. The double late in the game. He's a player."
Benge walked on eight pitches to set up Vientos' go-ahead home run. Then, he provided some insurance with an RBI double to the right-field corner in the eighth inning that made it 3-1. Benge drew two walks, scored twice and drove in the one run.
In the last four series, Benge has four multi-hit performances, raising his average from .143 to .186 while scoring six runs and driving in four of his seven runs on the season.
"It just feels like a juiced baseball game now," Benge told reporters. "Kind of took a while to get my feet settled and different things like that, but now I'm feeling like I'm finding my groove and getting comfortable."
