Port St. Lucy – The newness in the Clay Holmes situation was spreading beyond the Mets' pitching on Saturday.
For the first time with the Pirates since 2019, he was a starting pitcher.
Holmes' Mets debut was successful on all counts, starting with the fact that the Astros didn't touch him in three innings.
With these three perfect frames, Holmes hit three but only needed 34 pitches to win the Astros at the Mets' 6-2 exhibition. He later went to the bullpen and threw another 15 to complete the afternoon work.
“The new team was their first start in the real game for a while, and they looked back on it and understood the opportunities they had and the opportunities I was doing it,” Holmes said. Ta. “It was an exciting day and special. I definitely felt that I'd come to the park today.”
After a successful stint as a rescuer with the Yankees, Holmes, who arrived on a three-year contract worth $38 million, has been working on incorporating a changeup into his arsenal.
He threw the pitch seven times.
“I think it's going to be a left-handed weapon, but I think it'll help protect the sinker,” Holmes said. “Between my sinker and changeups, I can be left-handed and have more space for the cutter and four seams. I really just expand the Arsenal, not the same speed, but with the same movement. There are not a few different looks.”
Mostly he was efficient.
“I was just feeling the energy, I was feeling the adrenaline. I was wearing uniforms with a lot of people and it made me feel better,” Holmes said. “It's great to get some ground balls and get your defenses working.”
The 7,394 attendees were the Mets' second largest for the opener at Port St. Lucie.
Ty Adcock is scheduled to face the Nationals in Port St. Lucie on Sunday.
The Mets' Split Squad travels to Jupiter, Florida, and brings Max Cranick to the mound.
