Mets bullpen implodes in late innings, fall to Diamondbacks in rubber match

Nolan McLean pitched well enough to give the Mets a chance to win by shutting out the Arizona Diamondbacks for six innings Thursday night at Citi Field. But without him, the Mets fell apart.

The Diamondbacks scored seven runs over the seventh and eighth innings to beat the Mets 7-1, and take the three-game series, 2-1. McLean took the loss when the two baserunners he allowed in the seventh inning came around to score. It’s the unfortunate part of being a starting pitcher, since typically six shutout innings is enough for a team to win.

But the Mets’ offense seems to be boom or bust without a lot of in-between, and the defense is still making adjustments with so many players playing out of position. It’s a detrimental combination that leads to inconsistencies on the field.

Up 1-0, a leadoff walk and a one-out single put runners on first and second in the top of the seventh inning for McLean. At 100 pitches, the Mets had little choice but to go to the bullpen. They went to Luke Weaver to face James McCann, a light-hitting catcher the Mets know from his two seasons in Queens. But the D-backs pinch-hit for McCann when Weaver came into the game.

Moreno drove a changeup to right field, over the head of Brett Baty and off the wall for an RBI double, tying the game at 1-1. It spurred a four-run rally.

Alek Thomas hit a grounder to Mark Vientos, who tried to get the runner at home for the second out, but his throw was off target. Jose Fernandez scored and Gabriel Moreno went to third. A fly ball by Tim Tawa scored Moreno, and Jose Barrosa hit a triple to right to score Thomas and put Arizona up 4-1.

The Mets had no response in the bottom of the inning, stranding Francisco Lindor at first base.

Right-hander Luis Garcia then allowed three runs in the top of the eighth before the Mets pulled him for left-hander Richard Lovelady.

The fans who stuck out during yet another frigid April night started booing before Lovelady even reached the mound.

Luis Robert Jr. hit a home run off left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez in the bottom of the first. The Mets were never able to build on the lead. Their best chance came in the fifth when they had runners on the corners with one out. Robert looked at a called strike 3 and challenged, but the call was confirmed. Vientos then hit a ground ball to third base to end the inning.

McLean was sensational before exiting. The rookie right-hander was charged with the loss (1-1), giving up two earned runs on three hits, walking two and striking out eight. But Rodriguez gave up little after that first-inning home run, going six innings in the win (1-0).

The Mets managed six hits against three Arizona arms, going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranding seven on base.