Nolan McLean and the New York Mets (14-23) took on the Arizona Diamondbacks (17-19), leading off their final series of a nine-game road trip. Friday night’s game kicked off a three-game set with the Diamondbacks, and behind great starting pitching from McLean and the bullpen, the Mets defeated the D-backs 3-1 in extras.

After the Mets went down in order to begin the game in the first, McLean took the mound, looking to bounce back from the worst start of his career. Despite a two-out double, the rookie would do just that, keeping the game scoreless through one.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Leading off the top of the second inning, Mark Vientos smoked a 104 MPH, 401-foot home run to left field, giving the Mets an early lead. In the bottom of the inning, Nolan Arenado would match Vientos with a leadoff home run, tying the game at one after the second inning.

After the second inning, a pitching duel began. At the end of the sixth inning, both teams combined had five hits, with the game still tied at 1-1. McLean’s outing ended after throwing his 100th pitch, allowing just one earned run and three hits in six innings pitched. The outing was a spectacular bounce-back for the right-hander, a start he will look to build on moving forward.

Luke Weaver replaced McLean in the bottom of the seventh inning. The veteran worked through trouble to produce a scoreless inning, with his fastball topping out at 97.6 MPH.

Brooks Raley replaced Weaver in the bottom of the eighth inning. The left-hander worked the sixth consecutive scoreless inning for the Mets staff. In the inning, Diamondbacks’ rookie Ryan Waldschmidt recorded his first career MLB hit in his first plate appearance. The score remained 1-1 after eight.

After the Mets once again failed to score in the top of the ninth, Devin Williams replaced Raley, looking to hold the score and push the game into extra innings. The Airbender would do just that, setting the Diamondbacks down in order.

Leading off the 10th inning, Vientos came through once again, doubling down the left field line, driving in the free runner Brett Baty. Carson Benge added on, smoking a ground-rule double into the left-center field gap that drove in Baty. That hit parade continued with a perfect bunt by Marcus Semien, making it first and third with nobody out. After MJ Melendez struck out and Francisco Alvarez grounded into a fielder’s choice, Luis Torrens grounded out to end the inning after taking a 3-1 lead.

Tobias Myers replaced Williams in the bottom of the 10th, coming off a poor outing in Colorado. He would bounce back wonderfully in his inning of work, retiring the side in order on 10 pitches, closing out a Mets win.

Player of the Game: Nolan McLean

McLean was in need of a strong start after failing to pitch beyond the fourth inning in his last outing, while allowing three earned runs. The National League Rookie of the Year candidate did just that, working six spectacular innings, the only blemish being a solo home run to the veteran Arenado. McLean’s season ERA dropped down to 2.78 and his WHIP to 0.90, good for the 14th and 5th best marks among qualified National League pitchers.

On Deck

The Mets will resume action on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. EST in the middle contest of the three-game set against the Angels. Clay Holmes will take the mound for his eighth start of the season, looking to continue his elite early-season pitching. The game will stream live on FOX, with radio on WCBS 880, and the Audacy app.