Nolan McLean deals early, but offense falls flat in loss to Rockies in first game of doubleheader

(Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)

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Nolan McLean deals early, but offense falls flat in loss to Rockies in first game of doubleheader

1 / 2

Nolan McLean deals early, but offense falls flat in loss to Rockies in first game of doubleheader

2 / 2

Nolan McLean deals early, but offense falls flat in loss to Rockies in first game of doubleheader

(Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)

The Mets fell to the Colorado Rockies by a score of 3-1 in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader at Citi Field.

Here are the key takeaways...

-- Nolan McLean was locked in early, racking up six strikeouts through the first three innings. The only hit he allowed the first time through the order was a bloop single to right by Jake McCarthy, who was then picked off as McLean showed off a terrific move.

But the righty found himself in a jam in the fourth, as the Rockies loaded the bases on a pair of hits and walk. A Troy Johnston hard-hit single to right made it a 1-0 game, but McLean got out of it by allowing just one run thanks to a strikeout and a 1-2-3 double play.

McLean ran into similar trouble in the sixth, allowing a double and a walk before Mark Vientos made a throwing error while trying to get an out at second base. McLean’s afternoon ended there with the bases loaded and nobody out.

Huascar Brazoban allowed an inherited runner to score on a double-play ball, but limited the damage. In all, McLean went 5.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. His season ERA sits at 2.80.

--Brazoban stayed in to pitch the seventh, allowing a leadoff double and an eventual RBI single from McCarthy, pushing the Rockies' lead to 3-1.

-- The Mets had a chance to get to old friend Jose Quintana early, making him throw 31 pitches in the first inning. But with the bases loaded and one out, Marcus Semien went down swinging, and Brett Baty was called out on a 3-2 pitch that was initially called a ball but successfully challenged by Colorado.

-- Quintana settled in over the middle innings, but the Mets got to him in the bottom of the fifth, as Tyrone Taylor slugged a solo home run. His second big fly of the season tied the game at 1-1. Quintana left the game with the lead, going 5.1 innings while allowing just one earned run on two hits, striking out five and walking two.

-- A huge moment came in the bottom of the eighth. With the Mets trailing by two, they loaded the bases on Francisco Alvarez's first-career pinch-hit hit, a Bo Bichette single and a Juan Soto walk. But Luis Robert Jr. popped up for the second out, and Mark Vientos struck out, marking the second time the Mets left the bases loaded.

-- The Mets had just four hits as a team. They went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.

Game MVP

Quintana, who pitched into the sixth inning and allowed just one run against his former club.

Highlights

Next Up

Game 2 of the double-dip is coming up, with Kodai Senga on the mound for the Mets.