Francisco Alvarez's first HR since being recalled fuels Mets' win over Angels

Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News on Jul 22, 2025

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — That month in the minors sure seems to be paying dividends for Francisco Alvarez.

In his second game since being recalled, the third-year catcher keyed the Mets’ 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night with a crucial two-run home run.

The Mets were trailing, 2-0, with two outs in the fifth when Alvarez launched his game-tying blast against Angels starter Kyle Hendricks into the left-field stands at Citi Field.

An elated Alvarez raised his first as he rounded first base, breaking into his first home-run trot since returning to the majors.

That jump-started a Mets rally, as Ronny Mauricio followed with a single and a stolen base, then scored on Brandon Nimmo’s go-ahead RBI single.

Nimmo’s hit was the fourth in a row for the Mets, who had been held by Hendricks to one bloop single through the first 4 2/3 innings.

Alvarez finished 1 for 4 and is now 2 for 6 with two RBIs and three runs in the two games since rejoining the Mets.

The 23-year-old Alvarez was hitting .236 with three homers and a .652 OPS when the Mets optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse on June 22.

Despite his struggles, the move came as a surprise, considering Alvarez had been a starter since he debuted in 2023 as one of baseball’s premier prospects.

The Mets always hoped Alvarez would return quickly, but they wanted him to work through his issues with everyday reps in the minors.

Alvarez responded with 11 homers in 19 games at Triple-A, prompting the Mets to call him up before Monday’s series opener against the Angels.

Monday’s crowd showered Alvarez with a standing ovation before his first at-bat, then continued to cheer as he went 1 for 2 with a double and two walks in that 7-5 win.

Tuesday’s performance came in support of Mets starter Frankie Montas, who worked around eight hits and two walks to limit the Angels to two runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Right fielder Juan Soto bailed Montas out in the first inning by throwing Nolan Schanuel out at home after a Mike Trout single.

Montas was dinged by Jorge Soler’s solo homer in the second inning and Schanuel’s RBI double in the fifth. But Montas prevented further damage in that fifth inning by striking Trout out with two runners in scoring position, then getting Jo Adell to fly out to deep center with the bases loaded.

Montas, whose season debut was delayed by three months due to a spring training lat strain, picked up the win to improve to 3-1 with a 4.62 ERA in five starts.

Rico Garcia, Reed Garrett and Ryne Stanek recorded the final 10 outs in relief to preserve the Mets’ one-run lead.

Pitching in place of closer Edwin Diaz, who appeared in the previous two games, Stanek got Trout to pop out with runners on first and second to end the ninth.

It was a less successful night for Francisco Lindor, who went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and extended his hitless streak to 0 for 30.

That set a new career worst for Lindor, who previously went through an 0-for-27 drought in 2016 when he was a second-year player for Cleveland.

“It’s part of it, but the one thing about [Lindor], he’s too smart,” manager Carlos Mendoza said before Tuesday’s game. “He’s always watching film. He’s always talking to the hitting coaches. Yesterday, he was out there hitting early. He did it again today.”

The Mets (58-44) go for a series sweep on Wednesday afternoon, with left-hander Sean Manaea (0-1, 2.45 ERA) set to pitch for the third time since returning from a spring training oblique strain. The Angels (49-52) have not announced a starter.