Mets’ bats spur late rally past Angels for improbable second straight win

On Monday afternoon, David Stearns expressed confidence in the bulk of his team ahead of the trade deadline, only stating outright that the bullpen needed help.

For at least the final three innings Monday night, the Mets provided some evidence for that belief.

The Mets lineup came alive to erase a 4-0 deficit in the fourth and a 5-2 deficit entering the bottom of the seventh, helping spark a 7-5 comeback victory over the Angels in front of 41,442 at Citi Field.

The Mets (57-44) have responded to losing three straight by winning two straight — the second far more improbable than the first as they scored the game’s final five runs.

Kodai Senga was done after three ineffective innings, and the Mets offense was mostly silent against Tyler Anderson.

Their only runs for six innings came courtesy of a two-run shot from Brett Baty, whose 11th home run of the season represented a career high and who may be winning an everyday spot.

They entered the bottom of the seventh down three runs before finally doing damage against Anderson and then against Reid Detmers.

In the frame, Francisco Alvarez — in his first game back from his Triple-A demotion — fought back from 0-2 to earn a walk before Luisangel Acuña singled him to third. Detmers entered and plunked Brandon Nimmo to load the bases.

Francisco Lindor — who entered play 0-for-19 — could not wake up his bat, but he could use his legs to beat out a fielder’s choice that scored one.

Juan Soto followed with a well-placed single up the middle to score two more and give the Mets life.

They broke through again in the eighth again thanks to the Baby Mets. Baty walked before Alvarez hammered a double off the right field wall.

Ronny Mauricio pinch hit and sent a ground ball right at third baseman Yoán Moncada, who easily had Baty at home. But Moncada threw wildly to the plate, gifting the Mets a 6-5 lead. Nimmo added a sacrifice fly to provide insurance.

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The Mets survived a game in which Senga, in his second game back from a hamstring strain, pitched just three innings in which he let up four runs.

Senga built up from 67 to 73 pitches, he and Sean Manaea stretching out slowly and putting a large strain on the bullpen.

The warning signs were present immediately, Senga unable to put away leadoff batter Zach Neto, who walked to begin the game. Senga did not allow a run in the frame but had to expend 23 pitches.

The first Angels run came in the second, when Logan O’Hoppe launched a solo homer.

The trouble fully arrived in the third, when Senga threw 37 pitches, did not receive much assistance behind him and allowed three runs in what would be his final inning.

In the third, Luis Rengifo singled before Mike Trout worked a two-out walk.

With two on, Taylor Ward hammered a double into the left field corner that ended up scoring two because Lindor airmailed Alvarez, allowing Trout to slide home safely.

Senga’s next pitch became an RBI single to Jo Adell. Six more pitches from Senga resulted in a Moncada walk before Senga finally struck out O’Hoppe to escape the inning and begin the bullpen carousel.