For six-plus innings Thursday night, Nolan McLean dazzled at Citi Field.
He allowed just a pair of hits and his stuff was especially filthy, as Arizona hitters were largely overmatched.
But lefty Eduardo Rodríguez was nearly as good for the Diamondbacks, and when McLean faltered in the seventh inning, Luke Weaver came in and got knocked around as the Mets lost their second straight, 7-1.
McLean was about the only thing that went right on another chilly night in Queens, as the right-hander faced just two batters over the minimum heading into the seventh before a leadoff walk to Geraldo Perdomo to start the inning.
After a strikeout of Adrian Del Castillo — McLean’s eighth of the night — he gave up a single to José Fernandez and was yanked after 100 pitches.
And that’s when the game fell apart, with the bullpen and defense falling apart late.
Weaver entered having allowed just three base runners in five innings over five appearances, but gave up a game-tying double to right to pinch-hitter Gabriel Moreno that Brett Baty couldn’t catch up to.
Alek Thomas then grounded to first with the infield in and Mark Vientos made a poor throw home, which allowed Fernandez to score as Arizona took the lead.
A Tim Tawa sacrifice fly added another run and Jorge Barrosa continued the rally with a triple to right to make it 4-1.
Weaver left to a chorus of boos following the four-run outburst.
The Mets had taken the lead in the bottom of the first on a two-out solo homer by Luis Robert Jr. It was the first earned run scored off Rodríguez this year.
The 412-foot shot to left-center was Robert’s second of the season, but that was it for the Mets offense.
They threatened with two outs in the third when Bo Bichette singled and Robert walked.
Vientos followed with a liner up the middle, but second baseman Ketel Marte was shaded that way and made the catch.
Another potential rally arose in the fifth.
Tyrone Taylor opened with a double to left and moved to third on Francisco Lindor’s grounder to shortstop. After Bichette walked, Rodríguez got Robert looking and Vientos this time grounded out to third to keep it a one-run game.
Still, the Mets held the lead to open the seventh and had their high-leverage relievers ready to go.
But Weaver and Luis García combined to give up five runs — while getting just three outs.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com
