Nolan Schanuel's career night wasn't enough as the Angels fell to the Mets 3-2 on July 23, 2025. Read how a 5th inning rally spoiled a strong start.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of career highs and welcome returns, but ultimately, it was another chapter in the same frustrating story for the Los Angeles Angels. Despite a four-hit outburst from Nolan Schanuel and the return of All-Star Chris Taylor, the Angels dropped a nail-biter to the New York Mets, 3-2, leaving fans to wonder what it will take to turn these individual bright spots into a team victory.
First baseman Nolan Schanuel was a one-man wrecking crew, recording a career-best four hits in the heartbreaking 3-2 loss.
For four and two-thirds innings, it felt like the Angels had the formula right. Starter Kyle Hendricks was cruising, allowing just a single hit. Jorge Soler had put the Halos on the board with a solo shot in the second, and the offense was generating traffic. But the game flipped in a New York minute. The Mets strung together four straight hits against Hendricks in the bottom of the fifth, punctuated by a game-tying two-run homer from Francisco Alvarez and a go-ahead single by Brandon Nimmo. Just like that, a 2-0 Angels lead evaporated into a 3-2 deficit, and Hendricks (5-7) was tagged with a loss that felt snatched from the jaws of victory.
If you're looking for a silver lining, look no further than the Angels' young core. First baseman Nolan Schanuel had the best night of his young career, lacing four hits, including an RBI double in the fifth that briefly gave the Angels a 2-0 lead. He was simply unstoppable. Not to be outdone, catcher Logan O’Hoppe continued his torrid hitting, collecting three hits of his own. These performances are more than just good box score lines; they're a sign that the future of the Angels' offense is in very capable hands, even on a night when the final score didn't reflect it.
The baseball gods can be cruel, and they were certainly toying with Mike Trout on Wednesday. Sitting on 998 career RBIs, Trout was twice denied the milestone. In the first inning, he was gunned down at home plate on a perfect throw from Mets outfielder Juan Soto. In the ninth, with the tying and winning runs on base, Trout stepped to the plate with a chance for ultimate redemption. Instead, reliever Ryne Stanek induced a game-ending groundout, leaving Trout hitless in key moments and still one RBI shy of 999. It was a fittingly frustrating end to a night of what-ifs.
The day wasn't all bad news. Before the game, the Angels activated All-Star Chris Taylor from the 10-day injured list. After missing over a month with a broken left hand, Taylor's return provides a much-needed veteran presence and defensive versatility to the lineup. In just 10 games before the injury, he had already made his presence felt with a home run and a stolen base. To make room, promising outfielder Gustavo Campero was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake, where he'll continue to get regular at-bats.
This one stings. Losing a one-run game where your young hitters excel and a star player is denied a milestone is a tough pill to swallow. But with Chris Taylor back in the fold and the bats of Schanuel and O'Hoppe looking hotter than ever, the pieces are there. The challenge now is putting them all together in the same game to turn these heartbreaking losses into the wins this team desperately needs.
