Francisco Alvarez's home run powers Mets to 3-2 comeback win over Angels

The Mets were down early, but a three-run fifth inning — powered by Francisco Alvarez's two-run homer — was the difference in their 3-2 win over the Angels at Citi Field on Tuesday night.

Alvarez hit 11 homers in Triple-A when he was demoted, but he went deep for his fourth homer of the season, his first since June and his first at home this year.

The Mets (58-44) have won three straight games and remain 0.5 games behind the Phillies, who won earlier in the evening.

Here are the takeaways…

– The Mets' defense helped out Frankie Montas early in this one. Mike Trout hit a one-out single with Nolan Schanuel on second. Juan Soto fielded the ball and threw a one-hopper to Alvarez, who tagged Schanuel to keep the Angels off the board.

Soto has six outfield assists after having nine all of last season.

Montas benefited from some great defense behind him as he scattered baserunners throughout his outing, only allowing one run on a Jorge Soler bomb in the second inning. However, things started to unravel for the right-hander in the fifth. Montas allowed two doubles with a walk sandwiched between, as the Angels took a 2-0 lead. But Montas would escape a bases-loaded jam and get through five innings.

Montas pitched into the sixth but could not complete the inning after allowing a two-out single to Logan O'Hoppe.

Rico Garcia picked up the final out of the sixth and ended Montas' night. The veteran right-hander tossed 91 pitches (58 strikes) across 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six.

– The Mets' offense was kept in check by veteran Kyle Hendricks through four innings. The only hit came on a Mark Vientos bloop single that centerfielder Jo Adell let drop in front of him. But that all changed in the fifth. With two outs, Brett Baty hit a double and Alvarez plated him with a monstrous two-run shot that got the Citi Field crowd on their feet. It's just Alvarez's fourth longball this season and the first at home.

Ronny Mauricio singled and stole second before Brandon Nimmo singled him home to give the Mets a 3-2 lead.

– New York could not take advantage of shoddy Angels infield defense, as Alvarez and Mauricio reached on two errors to lead off the seventh. Nimmo and Lindor struck out before Soto was walked intentionally to load the bases. Alonso struck out to end the threat.

The top four of the Mets lineup (Nimmo, Lindor, Soto, Alonso) went a combined 1-for-13 with three walks and four strikeouts. Soto did pick up his 13th stolen base this season, setting a new career-high.

– The Mets were without Huascar Brazoban and Edwin Diaz after they worked two games in a row, but the bullpen pieced it together. Garcia allowed a hit in one inning of work before Reed Garrett picked up four outs without allowing a baserunner. Ryne Stanek came on to close it out and allowed a leadoff single.

Stanek bounced back, striking out Luis Rengifo and getting Zach Neto to fly out. Schanuel hit a single to set up Trout with two outs. The former MVP popped out to Alonso to end the game.

Game MVP: Francisco Alvarez

The Mets were being dominated by the Angels before Alvarez's two-run blast in the fifth.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets wrap up their three-game set with the Angels on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m.

Sean Manaea (0-1, 2.45 ERA) will make his second start of the season while the Angels have yet to announce their starter.

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