ANAHEIM -- Welcome back, Wade Meckler.
The right fielder and Anaheim native returned from the seven-day concussion list and made an immediate impact, ripping an RBI single in the first inning and making an unreal home run-saving catch in an eventual 5-3 loss to the Phillies on Friday night at Angel Stadium.
With the Angels up by two runs in the ninth and closer Ben Joyce struggling to throw strikes, Bryson Stott sent a deep drive down the right-field line that looked like it was going to give the Phillies the lead with a three-run blast. But Meckler jumped into the stands to make a leaping catch and preserve the lead.
“I was fired up,” Meckler said. “At the time, it preserved the lead, close to winning the game and Mike [Trout] kind of riles me up sometimes when I make a play out there. So it was a cool moment. Just wish we were able to, obviously, hold on and win the game.”
Meckler was excited after making the play over the short fence in right field, but the Angels weren’t able to hold the lead. Lefty Sammy Peralta replaced Joyce with two outs and the bases loaded, and gave up a go-ahead grand slam to pinch-hitter Edmundo Sosa.
Manager Kurt Suzuki said he went to Peralta because Joyce is returning from shoulder surgery and they didn’t want to push him. Joyce threw 26 pitches, with only 11 going for strikes.
“Definitely tough,” Suzuki said. “What a play by Meckler, right? Unbelievable play. And just an off night for Ben, but all the confidence in the world in him. It's just one of those nights.”
Joyce, who entered with a 0.00 ERA with 12 strikeouts and three walks in 7 2/3 innings, agreed it was just an off night and was frustrated he wasn’t able to come through, especially after Meckler made that play. Joyce walked the next batter, which led to Peralta coming in.
“It was an incredible play,” Joyce said. “It’s awesome when the guys behind you make a play like that. You want to do something back. It sucks to walk the next guy and, obviously, end up in the way it did. But it was an incredible play and I wish I could’ve finished it out, but it is what it is.”
Meckler also went 1-for-3 at the plate, with an RBI single in the opening frame on the first pitch he saw since being hit on the helmet by a pitch on Aug. 20. It helped the Angels get out to an early three-run lead, but they couldn’t add on and managed just three hits on the night.
“With extended time off, I wanted to get an early swing off and kind of feel where my barrel was at and feel solid contact,” Meckler said. “That was a first pitch that was over the plate, so I just put a good swing on it.”