Rookie Nolan McLean pitched seven strong innings and Juan Soto homered and drove in four runs to help the visiting New York Mets defeat the Atlanta Braves 12-7 on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

The Mets broke a two-game losing streak and ended Atlanta’s two-game winning streak. New York improved to 4-7 against the Braves this season.

McLean (2-0), making his second major league start, allowed two runs on four hits and no walks while striking out seven. He allowed a home run for the first time in his brief career when Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a solo shot in the fourth inning.

Soto ended an 0-for-9 streak by going 3-for-4, including a two-run homer in the seventh inning, his 32nd of the year. That was the only long ball among the season-high-tying 21 hits the Mets produced.

New York’s Francisco Lindor went 3-for-5 with a walk, two runs and two stolen bases. He extended his hitting streak to 10 games. He is batting .512 (22-for-43) with 12 runs, five doubles, four homers, eight RBIs and four steals during the stretch.

New York’s Brett Baty went 4-for-6, the first four-hit game of his career, as he reached base safely for the 10th consecutive game. In 14 games this month, he is batting .378 (17-for-45). Tyrone Taylor and Cedric Mullins added three hits apiece for the Mets.

Joey Wentz (4-4) had his worst outing since joining the Braves in mid-July. He was knocked out after 3 1/3 innings, having allowed six runs on nine hits with two walks and three strikeouts. His ERA rose from 4.72 to 5.25.

The Mets took control of the game early. They scored twice in the second inning on Hayden Senger’s RBI single and a bases-loaded walk to Soto, then upped the lead to 4-0 on Mullins’ two-run triple in the third.

Acuna had two hits, including his 15th home run. Jurickson Profar had three hits, including a double, and drove in four runs.

The final two innings were played in the rain, which was heavy at times, but the game was never stopped.

–Field Level Media