E-Rod withstands McLean's flash to set up lightning-quick rally for D-backs

NEW YORK -- Nolan McLean was dealing for the Mets. The right-hander was spinning his breaking ball at an elite level and pumping his fastball, keeping the Diamondbacks' hitters off balance through six innings.

But Eduardo Rodriguez was not going to yield. On a cold Thursday night at Citi Field, the Diamondbacks' lefty wasn't as flashy as his younger counterpart -- with whom he also dueled in the World Baseball Classic final -- but outside of a Luis Robert Jr. home run in the first inning, he kept the Mets at bay.

Finally, in the seventh, the Diamondbacks broke through. Geraldo Perdomo worked McLean for a walk, and one out later Jose Fernandez singled. The night was over for McLean, while Arizona was just getting started.

When it was all said and done, the Diamondbacks managed to push across four runs -- and another three in the eighth -- to beat the Mets, 7-1, and take the three-game series.

The Diamondbacks were without the services of outfielder Corbin Carroll, who was out of the lineup due to a tight left hip flexor, and they were up against one of the game's best pitchers.

"They came together," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "They played together. Wasn't the same guy throughout the course of the evening. It was a great team win, and that's what makes it so special. We knew that we had a tough customer in McLean, he was doing a great job."

So, too, was Rodriguez -- who once again leaned on his changeup, throwing it 33 times out of his 102 pitches. It's a pitch that has been a real weapon for him this year.

"The hitter is going to tell you what pitch you use," Rodriguez said. "There will be some games I know I'm going to use my fastball more, my cutter, my curveball, it just depends on the situation in the game. If they keep swinging, I keep throwing it, that's the way it is. Just mix it around."

It seemed like no matter how well Rodriguez threw, though, the Diamondbacks were not going to be able to do anything against McLean. But that didn't impact how the veteran approached each inning.

"I don't really care who's on the other side," Rodriguez said. "Just go out there and try to do my job, and I know that our offense is going to do it, too. And that's what we did today."

Robert, who homered and walked in his first two plate appearances, came up in the fifth with a chance to break the game open -- with runners on first and third with one out -- but Rodriguez struck him out looking. Robert challenged the call, but it was confirmed as a strike.

Rodriguez then retired Mark Vientos to end the Mets' threat.

Lovullo saw the Robert strikeout as a "push moment" for Rodriguez, and the manager did not hesitate to send him back out for the sixth inning, even as he had thrown 91 pitches.

"That's something that I'm really proud of," Rodriguez said. "You know, I always try to go for a quality start -- six-plus innings -- that means you have a really good game, and that's what happened today."

The Diamondbacks have not had an easy schedule to open the season.

Since losing the first three games of the season to the Dodgers in Los Angeles, the Diamondbacks are 7-3 against the Tigers, Braves and Mets.

"It's a team effort," Lovullo said. "And they're full of character, and they fight hard, they play hard together, and I think that's becoming our identity. I'm watching that happen at the early part of the season. These guys are just going for it and believing in one another."