CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Nolan McLean tossed seven innings of three-hit shutout ball, leading the New York Mets to a 9-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. McLean struck out nine and allowed no earned runs, improving to 4-4. Nick Lodolo took the loss for Cincinnati, falling to 2-2 after giving up four hits and two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. The Mets pounded out 15 hits and scored three runs in the third inning, four in the fifth and two in the eighth. Juan Soto went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, Bo Bichette was 3-for-4 with an RBI and Francisco Alvarez added three hits. A.J. Ewing doubled in two runs, and Mark Vientos drove in two. Cincinnati managed just five hits and scored its only run on a sacrifice fly by JJ Bleday in the third inning. Attendance was 27,207, and the game lasted 2 hours, 29 minutes. The Mets improved to 33-41, while the Reds fell to 35-38.

CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Nolan McLean pitched seven dominant innings, striking out nine and allowing only three hits, as the New York Mets defeated the Cincinnati Reds 9-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. The Mets, who had lost the first two games of the series by a combined 17-3, snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 33-41. The Reds fell to 35-38. McLean, who earned his fourth win against four losses, threw 54 strikes among his 70 pitches and did not walk a batter. He allowed only one unearned run in the third inning after an error extended the frame. The right-hander retired the side in order in the first, second and fourth innings and struck out the side in the seventh. He was removed after the seventh having thrown 70 pitches. The Reds scratched their only run in the third. With two outs, left fielder JJ Bleday lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring catcher Jose Trevino, who had reached on a two-base error by first baseman Mark Vientos. The rally began when Trevino reached on the error, advanced to third on a double by shortstop Matt McLain and scored on Bleday’s fly ball. McLean then induced a forceout to end the inning. The Mets answered immediately in the top of the fourth and fifth innings, building a 7-1 lead. After a quiet first two innings in which they grounded into two double plays, the Mets broke through in the third. Catcher Luis Torrens led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Zack Short and advanced to third on a groundout. Third baseman Bo Bichette walked, and left fielder Juan Soto singled to center to score Torrens. Second baseman Marcus Semien followed with a line-drive single to left to score Bichette, and first baseman Mark Vientos singled to left to drive in Soto. The inning ended with the Mets leading 3-0. The Mets added four more runs in the fifth. After a leadoff groundout, Bichette singled to right, Soto singled to left and Semien singled to left to load the bases. Vientos lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Bichette. Designated hitter Francisco Alvarez singled to left to score Soto, and center fielder A.J. Ewing doubled to center, driving in Semien and Alvarez. The Mets led 7-1. The Mets capped their scoring with two runs in the eighth. Right fielder Carson Benge led off with a triple to left. Bichette singled to right to score Benge. Soto doubled to center to score Bichette, giving the Mets a 9-1 lead. McLean’s outing was his second consecutive strong start. On June 12 against Atlanta, he earned the win with four innings of two-run ball, striking out six. On June 6 at San Diego, he threw six innings of one-run ball in a loss. Reds starter Nick Lodolo took the loss, falling to 2-2. He allowed seven runs, six earned, on 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked one. The Mets’ bullpen finished the game effectively. Austin Warren pitched a scoreless eighth inning, allowing one hit. Brooks Raley pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit. The Mets’ offense collected 15 hits. Bichette went 3 for 4 with a walk, a run scored and one RBI. Alvarez went 3 for 5 with one RBI. Soto went 3 for 5 with two RBIs. Semien went 2 for 4 with a walk, one run and one RBI. Ewing went 1 for 4 with two RBIs. Vientos went 1 for 4 with two RBIs. The Reds managed five hits. Second baseman Edwin Arroyo had a double and was hit by a pitch. First baseman Nathaniel Lowe doubled. Third baseman Sal Stewart doubled. Shortstop Matt McLain doubled. Catcher Jose Trevino singled. The Mets grounded into two double plays. The Reds committed two errors. The game was played before an announced crowd of 27,207 and lasted 2 hours, 29 minutes. The Mets now travel to Philadelphia for a three-game series beginning Thursday. The Reds open a three-game series at the New York Yankees on Friday. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of New York Mets 4, Cincinnati Reds 3. Interstat’s ELO system had projected the Reds with a 51.20 percent probability to win. The Mets were installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The total score of 10 went under the over-under line of 9.

CINCINNATI (Interstat) — The New York Mets look to salvage the finale of a three-game series Wednesday afternoon against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. EDT under partly cloudy skies and a temperature of 76 degrees. The Mets (32-40) have lost the first two games of this set by a combined 16-1, including a 12-0 drubbing Monday. New York will start right-hander Nolan McLean (3-4), who will try to stop a slide that has seen the Mets lose four of their last five. The Reds (34-37) counter with left-hander Nick Lodolo (2-1), who has been sharp this season. Cincinnati has won three of the last five meetings between the clubs, including Tuesday’s 4-1 victory. Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez has been the catalyst. In Monday’s 12-0 win, Suárez went 2-for-4 with two home runs and six RBIs. Over his last 10 games, he has three homers and nine RBIs, though he is hitting .200 in that span. For the Mets, right-hander Jonathan Pintaro is a player to watch. Despite a 6.00 ERA across three relief appearances last week, he has shown flashes of effectiveness. In 2 2/3 scoreless innings against Cincinnati on May 25, he allowed no hits and struck out three. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-3 New York win. The Mets are a -1.5 run favorite, with the over/under set at 9. Following this series, the Mets travel to Philadelphia for a three-game set starting Thursday. The Reds head to New York for a three-game series against the Yankees beginning Friday. Key notes: The Mets have lost four of their last six overall. The Reds have won three of their last five.