Nolan McLean tosses gem as Mets offense erupts in rout of Braves

ATLANTA — By the time Nolan McLean returned to the mound Friday for the fourth inning — a danger zone for Mets starting pitchers — he had plenty of latitude.

Already, the Mets had erupted for seven runs, the kind of gift seldom bestowed upon any starting pitcher.

McLean, in his second major league start, just had to throw strikes and keep going.

The rookie remained strong and minimized base runners.

In the end he found rare air by getting through seven innings, allowing only two runs, in the team’s 12-7 victory over the Braves at Truist Park.

McLean’s performance snapped a streak since June 7 in which a Mets starter other than David Peterson hadn’t completed six innings.

Peterson had nine such performances during that stretch.

Clay Holmes was the previous Mets starter other than Peterson to complete six innings.

The Mets had no shortage of offensive heroics on this night, starting with Brett Bay, who went 4-for-6 in recording his first career four-hit game.

Francisco Lindor reached base four times and Juan Soto hit the Mets’ only homer, a two-run blast in the seventh.

The Mets, who snapped a two-game skid, matched a season high with 21 hits.

Five members of the starting lineup had at least three hits on a night the Mets went 8-for-18 with runners in scoring position.