Mets' Nolan McLean strikes out nine in lopsided win over Reds

CINCINNATI — Bo Bichette continued his hot streak with three hits, Nolan McLean struck out nine in seven innings and the Mets averted being swept with a 9-1 victory over the Reds on Wednesday.

Francisco Alvarez and Juan Soto also had three hits apiece. The Mets had 15 hits, which is tied for their second-highest output of the season.

Bichette has multiple hits in six straight games and went 8-for- 14 in the three-game series. The infielder is also batting .539 (14-for-26) over his last six games with two homers and eight RBIs.

McLean (4-4) allowed one unearned run and three hits as he went seven innings for the third time in 15 starts.

It was Carlos Mendoza’s 205th victory as Mets’ manager. The third-year skipper passed Jerry Manuel and moved into ninth place on the franchise’s wins list.

JJ Bleday drove in Cincinnati's only run on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the third inning to drive in Jose Trevino.

Cincinnati went 4-2 against the Mets for the second straight season.

The Mets jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning on two-out RBI base hits by Soto, Marcus Semien and Mark Vientos off Cincinnati starter Nick Lodolo (2-2). They broke it open with four in the fifth, including a two-run double by A.J. Ewing to make it 7-1.

Lodolo allowed seven runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings.