Angels fall to Mets 3-2 on July 23, 2025, as Mike Trout fails to deliver in the 9th. Despite a career night for Nolan Schanuel, the Halos lose a heartbreaker.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was the moment every Angels fan dreams of: two runners on, two outs in the ninth, and Mike Trout striding to the plate with a chance to be the hero. But on a tense Wednesday night at Citi Field, the storybook ending wasn't meant to be. Mets reliever Ryne Stanek retired the future Hall of Famer to end the game, stranding the tying and winning runs and sealing a frustrating 3-2 loss for the Halos.
Nolan Schanuel was simply sensational, going a perfect 4-for-4 for a new career high in a brilliant individual performance.
The ninth inning was a microcosm of the Angels' night: full of promise, but ultimately ending in disappointment. Down by one, the Halos put two runners on, bringing the legendary Mike Trout to the plate. The tension was palpable, but Mets closer Ryne Stanek held his nerve, getting Trout out to slam the door. It was a brutal end to a game that felt winnable, leaving the Angels to wonder what could have been.
While the final score stung, it wasn't all bad news for the Angels. First baseman Nolan Schanuel was a massive bright spot, putting together the best offensive game of his young career. Schanuel went a perfect 4-for-4, lacing an RBI double and raising his average to .278. He wasn't alone in his efforts; Jorge Soler launched a solo home run and Logan O’Hoppe chipped in with three hits of his own. The offense generated baserunners all night, but pushing them across proved to be the team's Achilles' heel.
The Angels held an early lead, but the game slipped away in the fifth inning. Starter Kyle Hendricks, who had been solid, surrendered a game-tying two-run homer to Francisco Alvarez, followed by a go-ahead RBI single from Brandon Nimmo. That was all the Mets would need. The missed opportunities started even earlier, when Juan Soto gunned down Mike Trout at the plate in the first inning, robbing him of his 999th career RBI and setting a defensive tone for New York that the Angels couldn't overcome.
In a significant boost for the club, All-Star Chris Taylor was reinstated from the 10-day injured list before the game. Taylor has been sidelined for over a month with a broken left hand, playing in just 10 games this season. His veteran presence and defensive versatility have been sorely missed. To make room, outfielder Gustavo Campero was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake. Fans will be eager to see Taylor back in the lineup, hoping his return can provide the spark this offense needs to turn these close losses into victories.
This loss will sting, especially with the number of opportunities the Angels had to win. But with Nolan Schanuel heating up and Chris Taylor returning to the fold, there's reason for optimism. The Halos will need to shake this one off quickly and find a way to deliver the clutch hit they couldn't find tonight as they look to even the series against the Mets tomorrow.
