Mets' bullpen can't back Nolan McLean's strong outing in loss to Diamondbacks
Mets reliever Luke Weaver reacts as he comes out of the game in the 7th inning of his game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field on Thursday. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Nolan McLean turned in an impressive start Thursday night, but the Mets' bullpen couldn't hold the Diamondbacks down in the later innings and the Mets fell, 7-1, at Citi Field.
McLean allowed two runs and three hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out eight and walking two. He gave way to Luke Weaver, who gave up two runs in the seventh, Luis Garcia allowed three runs in the eighth while getting only one out.
Arizona's Eduardo Rodríguez outdueled McLean in a rematch of the World Baseball Classic final. Rodriguez threw his final pitch down 1-0 before the Diamondbacks scored four runs in the seventh off McLean and Weaver.
Gabriel Moreno greeted Weaver with a pinch-hit RBI double before Jose Fernandez beat Mark Vientos’ throw home on Alek Thomas’ grounder to first. Tim Tawa hit a sacrifice fly and Jorge Barrosa followed with a run-scoring triple. Moreno and Adrian Del Castillo added RBI doubles in the eighth.
Rodriguez (1-0) gave up five hits — including Luis Robert Jr.’s first-inning homer, the first earned run allowed this season by the left-hander — and struck out three in six innings.
Rodriguez tossed four scoreless innings and McLean surrendered two runs in 4 2/3 innings on March 17, when Venezuela won the WBC by edging Team USA, 3-2.
Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll didn’t play because of a sore left hip flexor suffered while running out a triple in Wednesday’s 7-2 win.
