Pitcher Nolan McLean delivered a dominant performance, scattering two hits over seven innings and allowing only an unearned run to lead the New York Mets to a 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday at Citi Field. The win marked a promising stretch for the Mets, who have won 14 of their last 23 games.
McLean's outing, while not flashy in terms of strikeouts, showcased control and efficiency. He walked just one batter and has now allowed only one earned run across his last three starts since an Aug. 8 outing. This has aided his resurgence in the National League Rookie of the Year contention, building a strong case in his first full major league season.
The Astros struck first, scoring a run in the opening two batters when Jeremy Peña doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly. However, the Mets quickly responded in the bottom of the first inning. Francisco Lindor walked, advanced on a balk, and scored on Jared Young's single.
The Mets took the lead in the fifth inning when Juan Soto, returning from a 31-game absence, drove in Lindor with a single. Later in the same inning, Young hit a two-run triple down the right-field line, extending the Mets' lead.
The Astros pulled within a run in the eighth inning when Yordan Alvarez hit his 37th home run of the season. However, the Mets added two insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning, and Kodai Senga closed out the game in the ninth, recording the final three outs.
McLean's performance has been a cornerstone of the Mets' recent success, and Saturday's start served as a reminder of his potential as the team's future ace. The team's strong play in recent weeks, while likely too late to impact this year's postseason, offers a positive outlook for the upcoming season.