After the New York Mets offense struggled to score runs in the first two games of their series with the Cincinnati Reds, the offense used two-out hitting in the third inning as part of a nine-run, 15 hit game in a 9-1 win to prevent a sweep. Pitching-wise, the Mets didn’t get much out of Tobias Myers and Kodai Senga in the first two games, but Nolan McLean had his best outing in a bit with seven strong innings and looking like the pitcher the Mets hope he can become. The Mets are now 33-41 on the season.

Nolan McLean Has Best Outing in a Month

Heading into Wednesday’s game, McLean had pitched to a 6.38 ERA over his last five starts and walking 16 batters. In his last start against the Atlanta Braves, he only went four innings and walked four batters. Against the Reds, McLean finally looked like his dominant form that made him a name to watch coming into the 2026 season. He utilized his fastball and sweeper very well, especially the fastball. 27% four-seam fastball in the outing, and 26% sinker. He struck out nine in seven innings with only just one walk. McLean’s command was as strong as it’s been in a while. It was an outing the Mets needed from McLean after the struggles of Myers and Senga, and one McLean himself needed as he was a stopper for the Mets in the win.

Offense Comes Up Big with Two-Outs

Compared to the first two games of this series, this game was a different story for the Mets with runners on base. The Mets took advantage of a mistake by the Reds to start things off. Luis Torrens tried to advance to third on a ground out by Carson Benge, and first baseman Nathaniel Lowe had Torrens, but third baseman Sal Stewart dropped the ball, and the inning continued. New York caught a break, and after a two-out walk by Bo Bichette, Juan Soto hit a blooped single to score the Mets first run of the day.

Marcus Semien then lined a base hit into left field to drive in Bichette to make it 2-0 Mets. Another RBI from Mark Vientos made it 3-0. Three two-out RBI hits for the Mets in the inning. The Mets then tacked on four more runs in the top of the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly by Vientos, another pair of two-out RBIs from Francisco Alvarez and AJ Ewing as the Mets went ahead 7-0. Ewing’s was a two-out, two-run double. Soto, Bichette, and Alvarez each had a three-hit day. After the Mets went 2-for-11 with RISP on Tuesday night, and 1-for-12 on Monday night, the Mets 7-for-13 with RISP in the win on Wednesday.

AJ Ewing Shines with the Glove Again

Ewing both contributed at the plate and on defense, and it was his defense that really helped turn the tide of the game and what could’ve been a disastrous inning. In the bottom of the third inning, the Mets made a pair of mistakes. Vientos let a throw by Zach Short get by him on a Jose Trevino ground ball. Matt McLain then doubled on a line drive that got under the glove of Soto that was ruled a double. McLean then hit Edwin Arroyo to load the bases. JJ Bleday lined a ball to right-center that Ewing dove and robbed him of an extra base-hit and what could’ve been a bases clearing double. Trevino scored, but Ewing’s stellar defense kept the Mets in-front as McLean got Stewart to ground into a force out to end the inning.

Player of the Game: Nolan McLean

McLean was simply dominant in the win with nine strikeouts over seven innings.

On Deck

The Mets will head to Philadelphia for their first series of the season with the Phillies. The Mets will send Sean Manaea to the Mets on Thursday night against Aaron Nola. The game will start at 6:40 p.m. EDT and broadcast locally on SNY and WHSQ 880am.