Bichette has 3 hits, McLean strikes out 9 as Mets beat Reds 9-1 to avoid series sweep

By: Joe Reedy, The Associated Press Posted: 2:30 PM CDT Wednesday, Jun. 17, 2026

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

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Francisco Alvarez and Juan Soto also had three hits apiece. New York had 15 hits, which is tied for its 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 third baseman is also batting .539 (14 for 26) over his last six games with two homers and eight RBIs.

New York Mets' Juan Soto celebrates with his teammates after scoring on an RBI single by Mark Vientos during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)

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 score Jose Trevino. The Reds went 3-3 on their six-game homestand.

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

The Mets jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth 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.