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.

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