Nolan McLean tossed six eventful innings and earned the win after benefiting from three outfield assists Monday night, when the New York Mets stayed hot by edging the San Diego Padres 2-1 in the opener of a three-game series.
Right fielder Carson Benge threw out two runners at home in the first inning and left fielder A.J. Ewing nabbed a runner at the plate to end the second for the Mets, who became the first team since at least 1920 to throw out three runners at home in the first two innings of a game.
In all, the Padres made four outs at home between the first and second innings.
Bo Bichette (single) and Luis Robert Jr. (sacrifice fly) had first-inning RBIs for the Mets, who improved to a major-league-best 10-3 since the trade deadline — when New York finished dealing away eight players from a last-place team.
Walker Buehler took the hard-luck loss and Fernando Tatis Jr. lofted a sacrifice fly for the Padres, who are 9-4 since the deadline.
McLean (9-8) managed to last at least six innings for the 10th time in his past 11 starts despite throwing 46 pitches and allowing eight baserunners in the first two frames.
Benge ended the first by throwing out Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado on consecutive singles by Ty France and Jackson Merrill, respectively.
McLean opened the second by walking Luis Campusano, plunking Gavin Sheets and walking Xander Bogaerts before Campusano was forced at home on Luis Rengifo’s comebacker. Tatis followed with a sacrifice fly to deep left, after which Bogaerts was thrown out at home by Ewing as he tried scoring on Cronenworth’s single.
Overall, McLean gave up one run on six hits and four walks while striking out three. Jonathan Pintaro got four outs and Nate Lavender retired both batters he faced before Daniel Duarte earned his second save with a perfect ninth.
Buehler (7-6) gave up two runs on two hits — both in the first — while walking two and striking out four over six innings. He retired 16 of the final 17 batters he faced beginning with Robert’s sacrifice fly.
