David Peterson spins best start of year in Mets' walk-off win over Angels

In a three-part clash between the best hitter in baseball and a fledgling, sometimes flailing starting pitcher, David Peterson won each time.

On the way to his best start of the year and one of the best of his career on Sunday, Peterson held Shohei Ohtani to 0-for-3: lineout (scorched), strikeout (swinging), groundout (routine).

The Mets beat the Angels, 3-2, on Rafael Ortega’s walk-off single with the bases loaded and none out in the ninth inning.

But Peterson’s effort stood out the most: seven innings, one run, three hits, only one of which left the infield. He struck out eight and walked three. Since being called back up to the majors two months ago, he has a 2.78 ERA in 14 games (eight starts).

“He’s very quietly been real competitive for us,” manager Buck Showalter said. “That was the key to the game, his outing . . . We needed a starter to get deep in the game and Pete dialed it up for us. A lot better command. A lot of ground balls. Kept Ohtani from hurting us. That’s quite a feat.”

Peterson said of Ohtani, whom he retired on a slider, a fastball and another slider: “Mix it up, move it around, try to keep him off balance. He’s a good hitter.”

Los Angeles didn’t have a hit until the third, when Luis Rengifo beat out a grounder to the right side for a single. Peterson responded by retiring 11 of the next 12 batters (including Ohtani twice). The Angels’ first and only hit beyond the infield dirt against him was Randal Grichuk’s line-drive single to center during a seventh-inning rally. Chad Wallach’s bases-loaded groundout to first yielded the tying run, but Pete Alonso’s diving stop stopped it from becoming more.

Four weeks after being reinserted into the rotation, a de facto tryout for the 2024 team, Peterson is a fully stretched-out starter after spending much of July in the bullpen. He seemingly has gotten into a groove, too. He said Sunday was “one of the best” feelings he has had on the mound this season.

“If you look back at all the stuff we look at, it’s about repeating things and body control,” Showalter said. “He’s not my height, he’s not your height. He’s 6-6 and there’s a lot of moving parts. Everybody is trying to chase a delivery they can stay in so you can execute pitches. And when you get out of it, can you self-coach yourself and get back in it?

“That’s the challenge that all pitchers face. He stayed in a good delivery for an extended period of time, and the outing spoke to that.”

Peterson called it “a good building block” heading into the final month.

“We’re at a point where it feels really consistent right now,” he said.

Angels righthander Griffin Canning also was good in the unlikely pitchers’ duel: seven innings, one run, five hits. He struck out nine and walked one. Jeff McNeil scored from second on Francisco Alvarez’s infield single in the fourth.

Personnel news

The Mets activated Mark Vientos (left wrist tendinitis) from the injured list. He started at third base and went 0-for-3 with a walk that helped set up Ortega’s game-ending hit.

They also called up righthander Jeff Brigham, who recently finished serving a 10-game sticky-substance suspension for Triple-A Syracuse.

To make room on the roster for them, the Mets designated lefthander Adam Kolarek, who had made four scoreless appearances, and outfielder Abraham Almonte for assignment.

Extra bases

Francisco Lindor extended his hitting streak to 13 games, matching his longest in three seasons with the Mets. The longest of his career is 15 games . . . The Mets, seemingly undecided between Kodai Senga on regular rest and a minor-league call-up, list TBA as their starter for Wednesday.

By Tim Healey

timothy.healey@newsday.com@timbhealey

Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.