NEW YORK -- The Mets, as manager Carlos Mendoza put it, did not need Nolan McLean to play hero in his major league debut on Saturday. They just wanted a good start, an outing that would give New York a chance to beat the Seattle Mariners and maybe, finally, ignite a turnaround after two-plus dismal months of baseball.
McLean did not throw on a cape, but he delivered what the Mets needed, striking out eight hitters and flashing some clutch leather over 5u2153 scoreless innings in the Mets' 3-1 win at Citi Field.