NEW YORK -- After Nick Lodolo's saga with a blister and three lackluster starts since returning on May 8, Monday's performance for the Reds vs. the Mets was much more to his liking and expectations.
Lodolo completed six innings and got plenty of support while Cincinnati opened a three-game series with a 7-2 win at Citi Field. The Reds (28-25), who endured a lousy first two-plus weeks of May, have won four of their last five games.
Lodolo threw 98 pitches, with the only run that scored off him a sixth-inning home run by Marcus Semien. Otherwise, the left-hander gave up six hits overall with no walks and seven strikeouts, twice hitting Carson Benge with pitches.
A blister on Lodolo's left index finger developed during his final Spring Training start on March 22, and it took several weeks to get it under control. In his three starts prior to Monday, Lodolo had a 7.20 ERA as the Reds lost all three games.
The Reds already had a 2-0 lead against Mets starter Nolan McLean in the top of the third inning when JJ Bleday -- who entered the day in a 3-for-27 stretch -- hit a 1-0 pitch to right-center field for a solo homer, his seventh of 2026.
Cincinnati sent nine men to the plate in the top of the fourth and improved its lead with Spencer Steer's two-run single to center field. Tyler Stephenson followed Steer with a two-run homer to left field to make it a 7-0 game.
Lodolo carried a shutout into the sixth inning, when Semien led off and hit a 3-2 sinker to left field for the Mets' first run. But he recovered and retired the rest of the side in order.