Mets Roll Past Tigers 12-5 Behind McLean, Four Homers

The Mets (75-64) rolled past the Tigers (80-60) with a 12-5 victory on Tuesday evening at Comerica Park. New York’s bats erupted again for 12 runs on 17 hits, including four home runs, while rookie Nolan McLean (4-0, 1.37 ERA) turned in another standout start to earn the win on the bump.

The Mets have now taken the first two games to win the series in Detroit, tallying 22 runs so far, with the finale set for tomorrow afternoon. It will also mark the end of a grueling stretch—16 games in a row before the club finally gets a day off Thursday.

(Box Score)

In McLean’s fourth start fourth MLB start, the Mets’ talented young rookie tossed six innings, allowing just two runs on three hits, recording seven strikeouts and three walks. McLean allowed two runs in the opening inning after back-to-back walks and a pair of RBI singles put Detroit ahead early. But the right-hander quickly settled in and found his rhythm, making an incredible adjustment and retiring the final 14 batters he faced. His ERA now sits at 1.37 on the season through 26 1/3 innings.

At the plate, the Mets’ offense was nothing short of explosive for its second night in a row of double-digit runs. (It’s also the fourth time in nine games.)

Pete Alonso wasted no time getting the club on the board, launching a solo home run in the first inning.

New York grabbed the lead again in the fourth with a five-run outburst. Juan Soto drew a leadoff walk and swiped his 27th base before Brandon Nimmo singled, Mark Vientos walked, and Jeff McNeil drove in the tying run. Cedric Mullins added a sacrifice fly to put the Mets in front, and Luis Torrens capped the rally with a three-run homer to make it 6-2.

The Mets struck again in the seventh with another explosive inning that really broke the game open. Soto opened the frame with his 37th home run of the year. He has been on fire, with five home runs in his last five games, including a grand slam on Monday. Alonso followed with his second of the night and 33rd of the season. Nimmo, Vientos, and McNeil kept the rally rolling with back-to-back hits before Torrens and Brett Baty each added RBI singles. Francisco Lindor’s sacrifice fly closed out the six-run inning and extended the blowout t0 12-2.

Kevin Herget entered in the seventh and worked two scoreless innings, but ran into trouble in the ninth. He allowed a walk, back-to-back RBI doubles, and an RBI single that cut the Mets’ lead to 12-5. Ryne Stanek came on to record the final two outs and close out the win.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Nolan McLean earns Tuesday’s honor after another stellar outing. Through his first four MLB starts, the rookie has thrown 26 1/3 innings, allowing 13 hits, four earned runs, seven walks, and striking out 27. He owns a 1.37 ERA and joins Stephen Strasburg as the only pitchers in MLB history to begin their careers with four straight starts of at least five innings, six strikeouts, and fewer than three runs allowed, per Michael Mayer of MMO.

He is the first pitcher in 11 years to win his first four career starts, becoming the 25th pitcher in MLB history to do so.

ON DECK 

Clay Holmes (11-6, 3.60 ERA) will get the start for New York. In his last outing versus the Marlins, the starter allowed four runs on five hits over five innings, walking one and striking out two.

Casey Mize (12-5, 3.95 ERA) will take the mound for the Tigers. In his last time out against the Athletics, he tossed 3 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

The first pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. on SNY.

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