Right-handed pitcher, Nolan McLean (8-7, 3.51 ERA, 156 SO) was back on the mound for the Mets on Tuesday in a divisional game against Braves’ left-hander, Martin Perez (7-6, 3.14 ERA, 78 SO).
McLean was nearly untouchable on the mound, however after taking a no-hitter into the fifth, he left a pitch high in the zone that Ozzie Albies took advantage of, driving a home run to keep right field to put Atlanta up 1-0 over New York. It was the only hit and run that McLean gave up on the night, however that one pitch and run scored was enough to put him in the position to be credited with the loss. But it was an overall very good outing for McLean as he went on to end the day with just the one earned run on one hit, two walks, and three strikeouts.
McLean left with the Mets still in the game, however the Mets’ bullpen couldn’t keep Atlanta’s bats at bay as the Braves went on to defeat New York 4-0.
The Braves put another run on the board in the seventh off of Jefry Yan who did not have his strongest stuff on the day. He gave up one earned run on three walks through just 2/3 inning before Chayce McDermott came in to get the Mets out of the inning. McDermott allowed the Braves to extend their lead even further in the bottom of the eight when Matt Olson, launched a two-run home run to right field giving the Braves a 4-0 lead over New York.
The Mets didn’t do much offensively as they only managed to accumulate four singles on the day: one by Francisco Lindor, one by Luis Robert Jr., and two from Carson Benge. They went 0-2 with runners in scoring position and left five on base.
Atlanta’s win sends the series into a big, decisive rubber match Wednesday.
Player of the Game
Tuesday’s player of the game, though he took the loss was McLean for give six strong innings of one-hit, one-run baseball, striking out three.
On Deck
The Mets and Braves conclude their three-game series and this nine-game road-trip for New York on Wednesday at 7:15PM EDT. It will be the left-hander Zac Thornton (302, 2.52 ERA, 27 SO) on the mound for New York against the righty, Tyler Mahle (3-9, 4.83 ERA, 98 SO) for the Braves.
