Mets Offense Explodes, but Nolan McLean Struggles Against Nationals

In a surprising turn of events, the Mets unleashed a torrent of runs against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night, scoring five times within the first two innings. This offensive surge, however, was overshadowed by the struggles of Mets starter Nolan McLean, who had a challenging outing, allowing nine runs—six of them earned—over 5.2 innings pitched.

McLean’s performance was marked by a career-high six earned runs, four of which came on a single swing. In the bottom of the second inning, with the bases loaded, Nationals outfielder James Wood capitalized on McLean’s first pitch sweeper, launching it deep into left-center field for an inside-the-park grand slam. It was a moment that defined the aggressive approach taken by the Nationals throughout the game.

“They were ultra aggressive, especially that first time through,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “They were hacking first pitch, they were looking hard. The sinker, the cutter, 1-0 [count] and they were aggressive. Balls found holes, they attacked him.” McLean struggled to adjust, as Washington’s hitters made it difficult for him to find a rhythm.

“Sometimes it’s tough to make adjustments when they’re putting the first pitch in play on multiple different pitches,” McLean reflected. “They were just up there pretty aggressive, so sometimes it’s tough to get to the adjustment as quick as normal.” His fastball, typically clocking in around 96 to 97 mph, averaged closer to 94 mph for much of the night, potentially impacted by the sweltering heat and humidity or the 45-minute rain delay that preceded the game.

Despite the challenges, McLean took accountability for his performance. “They made some pretty good swings on some decent pitches,” he noted. “Obviously, I didn’t have my best stuff, but that’s no excuse for not going out there and competing better than I did.” He exited the game after 5.2 innings, handing the ball to Daniel Duarte, who provided a much-needed relief by tossing 2.1 scoreless innings.

Reflecting on his outing, McLean expressed disappointment in not meeting his own expectations. “Obviously, the bullpen’s been getting after it these last couple of days, but my job every time, whether we have a full bullpen or not, is to go out there and get at least seven, so I’m disappointed I didn’t do that,” he said.

Ironically, the pivotal second inning began with McLean retiring the first two batters. However, a double extended the inning, and after falling behind 0-2 to the No. 8 hitter Drew Millas, McLean hit him with a curveball, a mistake that proved costly. Mendoza highlighted the significance of that pitch, noting, “The 0-2 hit by pitch ended up costing a lot in that inning. Overall, especially in those early innings, he wasn’t able to go to his secondary, make that adjustment… It was a battle for him.”

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.