ATLANTA -- Nolan McLean's latest start did not begin swimmingly. It ended up in a much better place.
McLean allowed three first-inning runs to the Braves at Truist Park on Sunday, putting the Mets in an early hole. But beginning with a double play to end that inning, McLean retired 16 of his next 19 batters until Austin Riley singled to lead off the seventh, while the Mets rallied along the way -- and survived a late scare -- to give him a lead en route to a 10-9 win.
Things began inauspiciously for McLean, who hit the first batter he faced. He subsequently allowed a double to Ozzie Albies and a two-run single to Michael Harris II, who moved to third on a pickoff throw that Mark Vientos could not handle. The error went to McLean and another RBI single followed, this one from Mauricio Dubón.
But McLean induced an inning-ending double play to escape further damage. He worked around more trouble in the second, before cruising through the middle innings.
All told, McLean allowed three runs (two earned) over six-plus innings, striking out five on 96 pitches. His season ERA is 3.73.
It would have been a relatively easy victory for McLean after the Mets tacked on late, but Huascar Brazobán and Devin Williams combined to allow six runs in the ninth. It was the first time both teams scored five-plus runs in the ninth inning of an MLB game since a Mets-Nationals contest in D.C. on Sept. 3, 2019.
Williams finally ended things with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position to solidify McLean’s win.
"I'm satisfied with it," McLean said. "Obviously, we'll take the wins any time we can get them."