Mauricio’s go-ahead 7th-inning homer sparks Mets’ 4-3 rally over Angels

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Ronny Mauricio hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning and the New York Mets rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night in the opener of a nine-game road trip.

The win — just the Mets' fourth in their last 21 games — came a few hours after president of baseball operations David Stearns gave manager Carlos Mendoza a vote of confidence. New York has the majors' worst record at 11-21.

Marcus Semien hit a tying two-run single in the Mets' three-run sixth inning, which also included an RBI single by Francisco Alvarez. New York retired the final 21 Angels hitters.

Mets starter Christian Scott gave up three runs — two earned — and three hits in five innings with eight strikeouts and no walks. Huascar Brazobán (2-0) pitched a perfect sixth for the win, and Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams — who got his third save — finished up as Mets relievers combined for four hitless innings.

Jorge Soler hit a two-run homer for the Angels, who lost starter Walbert Ureña in the sixth inning when he was hit in the right leg by Bo Bichette's comebacker. It was just the second hit for the Mets off Ureña, who hadn't allowed a run through five innings before the bullpen took over.

Alvarez singled against Brent Suter to score Bichette in the sixth. Two batters later, Semien tied it at 3 with his two-run single off Chase Silseth.

Mauricio’s one-out homer in the seventh, with an exit velocity of 111.3 mph, came off José Fermin (0-1) and was his first of the season.

Los Angeles' bullpen entered with a 5.66 ERA, second worst in the American League.

Mets RHP Nolan McLean (1-2, 2.55 ERA) enters Saturday’s middle game of the three-game series after allowing one unearned run in a loss to Colorado last Sunday. Angels LHP Reid Detmers (1-2, 4.28) is making the seventh start of his return to the rotation.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Angels' Jorge Soler is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game lagainst the New York Mets, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after Marcus Semien hit a two RBI single during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 1, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, right, scores on a two RBI single by Marcus Semien as Los Angeles Angels catcher Travis D'Arnaud kneels at the plate during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 1, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Walbert Urena lays on the ground after being hit by a ball batted by New York Mets' Bo Bichette during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 1, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

New York Mets' Ronny Mauricio is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

BOSTON (AP) — Alex Tuch and Mattias Samuelsson scored in the first period, Zach Benson added another early in the third and the Sabres beat the Boston Bruins 4-1 on Friday night in Game 6 to advance to the second round of the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2007.

Josh Norris added an empty-netter. Alex Lyon finished with 25 saves.

The 4-2 series victory is the latest milestone for Buffalo, which saw the end of its 14-year playoff drought by capturing its first Atlantic Division title. The 2007 season was also the last time the Sabres advanced to the second round. They lost in the conference finals that year.

“It's one step in the right direction. That's it,” Tuch said.

Buffalo will play the winner of the Montreal-Tampa Bay series in the second round. That series will go to seven games after the Lightning's 1-0 overtime win Friday night in Montreal.

“I think Part A is getting to the playoffs. Part B is trying to have success once you get there,” coach Lindy Ruff said. “We talked about what a challenge it was going to be to try to take out a good team. And Boston's a good team. ... I thought our guys dug in and gave us a heck of a game tonight.”

David Pastrnak scored the lone goal for the Bruins. Jeremy Swayman made 22 stops.

“Buffalo, there's a reason they won the division,” Pastrnak said. "A lot of skill and speed that's over there. Their (defense) is very active. So, yeah, they were better."

Tempers flared with 1:31 to play after Benson tripped Charlie McAvoy. McAvoy responded with a slash at Benson. Both were sent to the penalty box.

It ends a feisty series comeback for the Bruins after earning a playoff berth in their first season under coach Marco Sturm. Boston has lost its last six home playoff games.

Trailing 2-1 in the third, the Bruins picked up their attack and had something working in the Sabres’ zone. But Josh Doan poked the puck away to start a break. He was pursued by Pastrnak and McAvoy toward the corner, when Doan flipped it back to a wide-open Zach Benson, who beat Swayman.

The Sabres’ speed dominated in the early going.

That changed 1:54 into the second period when a Buffalo turnover turned into a 2-on-1 break between Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha. Zacha passed to Pastrnak on the left side, and he fired it in from the faceoff circle to get the Bruins within 2-1. It marked his third goal in the series.

It was part of a second period that saw an increase in physical play that was mostly allowed by the referees. It included a more than nine-minute stretch without a stoppage of play.

The Sabres needed just 3:25 into the first period to open the scoring when Tuch guided in a touch pass in front of the net by Rasmus Dahlin.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (34) stretches but cannot make a save on a goal by Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (not shown) during the second period in Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Bruins left wing Tanner Jeannot (84) is upended by Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) during the first period in Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak, center, is congratulated after his goal during the second period in Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Buffalo Sabres center Peyton Krebs, front, celebrates after a goal by Mattias Samuelsson during the first period in Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Boston Bruins, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) sits on the ice after giving up a goal to Buffalo Sabres left wing Zach Benson (6) during the third period in Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)