If there’s one thing the New York Mets could really use right now, it’s for Bo Bichette to fully get going. It seems every time he gets on a bit of an encouraging stretch, it doesn’t sustain.
On Friday night, against the National League East Division-leading Atlanta Braves, Bichette had one of his finest performances as a Met. He launched two home runs, including a grand slam, that led the Mets to a 7-5 win. Nolan McLean struggled again, but the bullpen hung on in the end. The Mets are now 31-38 on the season.
Bo Bichette by Berto Carlo
Bichette With a Six-RBI Night
On fireworks night at Citi Field, Bichette started the festivities with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning off Braves starter Spencer Strider to get the Mets on the board first. Juan Soto followed that with a home run, making it back-to-back jacks to start things off for the Mets. One inning later, the Mets loaded the bases with two outs with hits from MJ Melendez and Luis Torrens before Carson Benge reached base on a hit-by-pitch. Bichette stepped in and cleared the right field wall for an opposite-field grand slam that put the Mets up 6-2. Bichette added a sacrifice fly later in the game to make it 7-2 New York. He now has three home runs in his last two games.
Nolan McLean With Another Tough Outing
The one big negative coming out of the win was the performance of McLean, whose struggles as of late continued. The Mets were hoping his start in San Diego would get him back on the right track, but a four-inning, four-walk performance, including a second inning where he threw over 40 pitches, was not the start he or the team was looking for.
In that second inning, McLean allowed the Braves to score twice to tie the game after the Mets’ offense gave him a quick 2-0 lead. Three walks and two hits were allowed by McLean in the frame, but that included a fielding error by Jared Young at first base on a pick-off attempt that allowed Ozzie Albies, who drew the first walk of the inning, to reach second base. Dominic Smith would drive him in with a single.
McLean was struggling and loaded the bases with nobody out. This was where the best part of McLean’s night came, though; he struck out Austin Wynns, got Mauricio Dubón to pop out and Michael Harris II to ground out to keep the game even at 2-2.
Devin Williams Record First Four-Out Save Since 2023
With McLean’s outing being short, Carlos Mendoza had to ask his bullpen to pick up the slack. Cionel Pérez gave the Mets 1 1/3 innings, while Huascar Brazobán threw 1 2/3 innings of his own with four strikeouts. Brooks Raley struggled in the eighth by allowing three hits and two earned runs to make it 7-4. Mendoza subsequently called on his closer, Devin Williams, to get him four outs, something the former All-Star hadn’t done since 2023 when he was in Milwaukee. He allowed an RBI single to Eli White in the eighth but got Rowdy Tellez to fly out to end the threat.
In the ninth, Williams had to work for his save as Dubon sent him on a 14-pitch at-bat that ended in a single. Williams, though, would strike out Harris and Matt Olson to end the game. It was Williams’ tenth save of the season.
Player of the Game: Bo Bichette
Bichette had his best game as a Met with two home runs and six RBIs, leading the Mets to the win.
On Deck
The Braves will pitch Martin Perez on Saturday, while the Mets have yet to announce a starter, though the expectation is that it will be Sean Manaea. First pitch is at 4:10 pm EDT, and the game will be telecast locally on SNY and broadcast on WHSQ 880AM.
