Nolan McLean had a chance to continue his recent string of success on Saturday night, but his final line ended up being sunk by some shoddy Mets defense.
McLean started his night by setting down the first six Dodgers he faced in order.
That stretch and his unearned run streak was quickly ended in the third, though, as he served up Kyle Tucker’s second homer in as many night’s leading off the inning.
“I wanted the fastball in that spot,” McLean said. “I got it pretty much where I wanted it to be, he just made a good swing on it and was able to hit it out.”
The right-hander gave up a one-out single two batters later, then the Mets failed to turn a pair of potential inning-ending double plays, which led to another LA run on the board.
A Brett Baty throwing error off the runner’s helmet was crucial in that stretch.
“That’s not an easy play for any first baseman,” interim manager Andy Green said postgame. “It’s one that looks easy, but it gets messed up with what the runners are doing.”
Then after a Freddie Freeman single pushed runners to the corners, Francisco Alvarez allowed his eighth passed ball of the season to force in the third run of the inning.
“It was just a tough luck inning for him with the bad defense,” Green said.
McLean allowed another run in the fifth and was in danger while running on fumes in the sixth, but a Francisco Lindor unassisted double play helped him escape a bases loaded jam.
He took home the loss in the 4-3 defeat, but did log his fifth straight quality start — finishing with four runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven batters across six innings.
“My stuff felt pretty good overall,” the 25-year-old said. “Obviously it’s a really good lineup, I thought I had some tough luck early in the game and late, wish I could’ve salvaged it a bit better and made some pitches.”
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