McLean spins gem, makes history in Mets’ sweep
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NEW YORK —
The Mets are 8-3 since McLean (3-0) made his debut Aug. 16 against Seattle. The 24-year-old right-hander allowed four hits and walked none with six strikeouts, throwing 95 pitches and lowering his ERA to 0.89. He retired 15 straight batters following Alec Bohm’s second-inning single and faced the minimum until Bryce Harper’s two-out single in the seventh.
According to ESPN Research, McLean’s stellar numbers make him the first pitcher in Mets history with a sub-1.00 ERA and 20-plus strikeouts through three career starts (0.89 ERA, 21 K’s). Additionally, his 21 strikeouts are tied for the third-most in Mets history over a pitcher’s first three career starts, trailing only Matt Harvey and Nolan Ryan.
Bohm and Max Kepler opened the eighth with singles, but McLean preserved the shutout by retiring Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott on medium-depth flyouts and inducing Harrison Bader to hit a squibber back toward the mound. McLean pounded his right fist into his glove as the Citi Field crowd of 41,893 roared.
Brooks Raley tossed a one-hit ninth to close out the five-hitter.
Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso had consecutive RBI singles in the third against Taijuan Walker (4-7), who gave up four runs and 10 hits in five innings against his former team.
Vientos added an RBI single in the fifth and a two-run homer in the seventh. Brandon Nimmo had three of New York’s 12 hits.
New York began the night with a 3 1/2-game lead over Cincinnati for the final National League wild card.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
