Mets Lose to Dodgers 2-1 And Waste Stellar Start from Nolan McLean

 

Mets 2B Marcus Semian (Photo Credits to Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The New York Mets lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 tonight at Dodger Stadium for their seventh consecutive loss and dropped their record to 7-11.

Mets RHP Nolan McLean got off to a tough start in the bottom of the first after he walked RF Kyle Tucker with one out and then gave up a bloop single to the following hitter catcher Will Smith to advance Tucker to third. McLean then allowed a RBI ground-out to the following hitter 1B Freddie Freeman.

McLean settled down after the first inning and one point retired 13 consecutive hitters. His final line was one run on two hits in seven innings. He gave up two walks with eight strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 2.08.

LHP Brooks Raley came in next in the bottom of the eighth and got into immediate trouble after he walked the lead-off hitter pinch-hitter Miguel Rojas and after a sacrifice bunt, intentionally walked DH Shoehei Ohtani. Raley then gave up the game-winning RBI single to Tucker.

The Met offense got off to a fast start in the top of the first after SS Francisco Lindor, but they were not able to do much after that against RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto who retired the next 20 hitters he faced.

They had a scoring opportunity in the top of the seventh after 3B Bo Bichette doubled with two outs and then catcher Francisco Alvarez followed with a walk. However, RF Brett Baty struck out to end the threat.

In the top of the eighth, they had another opportunity after LF Carson Benge singled with two outs and then Lindor followed with a single. Lindor then struck second and CF Luis Robert Jr came up next and worked the count full, but froze on a strike three call to end the threat.

In the top of the ninth, DH Jorge Polanco, Bichette and catcher Francisco Alvarez all went down in order with strikeouts against LHP Alex Vesla after Dodgers closer RHP Edwin Diaz has been dealing with velocity issues. The Mets offense went 0-2 with runners in scoring position leaving four runners on base.

The Mets next game is tomorrow night, Wednesday, April 15 at the Dodgers at 10:10 p.m.