Mets’ Nolan McLean completely shocked Tigers broadcast
Nolan McLean had Detroit batters — and the team’s announcers — shocked by his pitches on Tuesday.
The rookie pitcher struck out seven batters in the Mets’ 12-5 win over the Tigers, which included a masterclass in the bottom of the fifth inning when he retired the side in order by striking out all three batters, culminating with Detroit play-by-play man Jason Benetti reacting in disbelief on air.
“What is that? What was that?” Benetti said on air as he watched a replay of Colt Keith whiffing at a 92 mph sinker thrown by McLean. “It’s a sinker, but, like, glowing.”
He opened the inning by getting Dillon Dingler to strike out swinging on six pitches before getting Trey Sweeney to go down on strikes on four.
The impressive pitch to get Keith to strike out swinging culminated the impressive frame.
McLean came away with the win, which was his fourth straight. He became the first pitcher to win his first four MLB starts since 2014.
The rookie now has a 1.37 ERA, and on Tuesday, McLean finished his outing by allowing two earned runs on three hits in six innings.
He had struggled earlier in the game, walking consecutive batters in the first inning with two outs, allowing both runners to score.
But McLean turned it around as the Mets won their second straight game in Detroit.
“Started to lose confidence in the sweeper and curveball early. Just cause I wasn’t throwing it for strikes. Once I got in a groove there, I figured I’d go back and try it again. Wound up having it later in the game,” McLean said.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza called it an “impressive outing” and added that McLean understood the need to make adjustments.
“I thought he attacked and once we got the lead, continued to stay on the attack,” Mendoza said. “He went to the sinker when he needed to. The change up when he needed to and then continued to mix in some of those sweepers, the curveball and he goes out there and before you know it, it’s six innings and he’s given you a chance to win a baseball game.”
Credit to Nypost AND Peoples
