'Ultra aggressive' Nationals made it tough for Mets starter Nolan McLean to adjust without best stuff
With how aggressive the Nationals were, Mets starter Nolan McLean found it difficult to be able to make the necessary adjustments on his pitches.
It’s not often that the Mets score a bunch of runs in games started by Nolan McLean this season, but that’s exactly what they did on Tuesday night against the Washington Nationals after scoring five runs in the first two innings. However, this time it was McLean who let his offense down after the right-hander allowed nine runs (six earned) in 5. 2 innings.
The six earned runs given up by McLean are a career-high and four of them came on one swing. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning, James Wood attacked McLean’s first pitch sweeper and sent it deep to left center field, where the Mets couldn’t make a play on it, which resulted in an inside-the-park grand slam. In fact, all three hits allowed by McLean in that second inning came on the first pitch.
All three were on different pitches. “They were ultra aggressive, especially that first time through,” manager Carlos Mendoza said about the Nationals. “… They were hacking first pitch, they were looking hard.
The sinker, the cutter, 1-0 [count] and they were aggressive. Balls found holes, they attacked him. ” With how aggressive Washington’s hitters were, McLean found it difficult to make the necessary adjustments on his pitches because they wouldn’t allow him to get settled or find a rhythm.