Nolan McLean struggled in his Subway Series debut as the New York Mets fell 6-4 to the New York Yankees on Friday at Yankee Stadium. The right-handed pitcher allowed a career-high 10 hits, including two home runs, over five innings before being pulled after throwing 101 pitches.

The damage was done early when Cody Bellinger launched a three-run homer in the second inning, giving the Yankees a commanding lead. Ben Rice added to the Mets’ woes with a solo home run in the fifth inning, extending the deficit to 5-1. McLean’s outing ended after that frame.

McLean acknowledged that his lack of command contributed to the difficulty, saying he did not have his best stuff and credited the Yankees for capitalizing. Prior to this game, he had been on a strong run, allowing two earned runs or fewer in five straight starts and completing at least six innings in 13 of his previous 14 outings.

The game started roughly for McLean, who surrendered three singles and a walk in the first inning. Spencer Jones’ RBI single with the bases loaded put the Mets behind early. McLean limited further damage in the inning by inducing a ground ball double play from George Lombard Jr.

In the second inning, after securing two quick outs, McLean gave up consecutive singles to Anthony Volpe and Ben Rice before Bellinger’s home run off a curveball that marked the first time McLean surrendered a homer on that pitch in his career. Reflecting on the outing, McLean noted that some pitches could have been thrown better and that some well-struck balls simply found gaps.

Defensive support came from Carson Benge in the third inning, who threw out Luis Garcia trying to stretch a leadoff single into a double, helping McLean escape further trouble.

The two homers allowed marked a rare occurrence for McLean; the last time he gave up multiple home runs in one game was on July 30 against the Miami Marlins.

The game also featured pregame ceremonies honoring the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. McLean expressed his appreciation for the fans and the city’s tribute, emphasizing the significance of the remembrance over the outcome on the field.