ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mark Vientos doubled to start a rally in the Mets loss Saturday.
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A day later, he became a one-man rally for the team.
“I think the work behind the scenes is for sure showing these past two days,” Vientos said after smashing a pair of two-run homers in the Mets’ 5-1 victory over the Angels on Sunday. “I have been seeing the ball great all season. I think I have been just missing stuff, and I didn’t miss those two pitches today.”
Vientos’ homer in the fourth following Carson Benge’s walk gave the Mets a 2-1 lead.
In the eighth, Benge doubled in a run before Vientos again went deep.
Mark Vientos connects on a home run during the Mets’ May 3 win. AP
The outburst was welcomed by a slumping player and team.
Vientos entered the day with a .650 OPS and had not homered since April 18.
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He’s become a regular in the lineup due to the Mets’ mounting casualties.
“We have seen that,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We haven’t seen that in a while, but when [Vientos] gets hot, he can carry a team. That’s the power and the hitting that he’s capable of, and I am glad he came through for us today.”
The start time of Monday’s game in Colorado has been moved up three hours to 5:40 p.m. ET due to weather concerns.
Mendoza indicated the plan is to utilize David Peterson in a relief role behind an opener Monday against the Rockies.
The lefty Peterson returned from the bullpen to a starter’s role last Wednesday and struggled against the Nationals, allowing seven earned runs over 3 ²/₃ innings.
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Peterson did not pitch during the Rockies’ three-game sweep of the Mets just over a week ago.
Infielder Eric Wagaman was designated for assignment to create space on the 40-man roster for Vidal Bruján.
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