PHOENIX -- Something about the Diamondbacks brings out the best in Nolan McLean.
The 24-year-old right-hander notched his second quality start against Arizona this season, allowing one earned run while striking out six on Friday. He exited the game after the sixth inning with the game tied at 1, and the bullpen held Arizona scoreless from there en route to New York’s 3-1 10-inning win.
McLean had not been efficient lately, having pitched a combined nine innings over his last two starts prior to Friday’s game in Arizona. He bounced back following a rough outing against the Angels on May 2, where he lasted just four innings while allowing three earned runs on 78 pitches.
McLean said he was determined to flip the script against Arizona.
“My job is to get as deep into the game as I can every time I go out, and I was disappointed in myself last time against the Angels,” he said. “It was pretty important to me today.”
He labored at times on Friday, throwing 63 strikes out of 100 pitches, but he did not allow a baserunner past second following Nolan Arenado’s leadoff home run in the second inning.
That blast -- which came on a 1-0 sinker -- tied the game. McLean recovered nicely afterwards, retiring the next three hitters to end the inning.
“They're pretty patient hitters in there, and then you have a few guys who are looking for certain pitches early in the count,” he said. “You kind of play that cat-and-mouse game with them.”
The righty relied on his sinker, sweeper and four-seamer, which accounted for 80 of his 100 pitches, and he generated nine whiffs. His fastball peaked at 97.7 mph, which resulted in an Arenado groundout to end the fourth inning.
McLean had not thrown more than five innings since tossing 6 2/3 innings against Minnesota on April 21, and he has not earned a win since April 3 in San Francisco.
“I thought he did a really good job pacing himself,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game. “He found a way to give us six innings, and that’s pretty solid there.”
The bullpen picked up right where McLean left off, as relievers Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, Devin Williams and Tobias Myers combined for four scoreless innings. Myers earned his first career save, striking out two of the three batters he faced while not allowing Jose Fernandez, the automatic runner, to advance beyond second base.
First baseman Mark Vientos provided New York’s offensive spark, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, one home run and one run scored. He broke the 1-1 tie with a leadoff double in the 10th inning, giving the Mets their first lead of the game. Center fielder Carson Benge followed up with a ground-rule double, and that gave Myers all the breathing room he needed to close things out.
“I feel good right now, I just got to keep stacking the days and continue to be consistent,” Vientos said. “It was just, see ball, hit ball. I put a good swing on it, and it found some grass.”
Those heroics, though, were set up by the stellar six innings from McLean, who now has four quality starts this season. He said he doesn’t change his approach to the game, win or lose, but the gem on Friday could be the launching pad he has been looking for this season.
“Once the ball leaves my hand, whatever happens, happens,” McLean said. “I just try to control only what I can each time.”