Holmes Pitches Well Despite Mets’ Loss

Clay Holmes managed to throw four perfect innings along with a tricky fifth, ultimately reaching 75 pitches across five tied games.

Manager Carlos Mendoza opted to pull Holmes, choosing to leverage his improved bullpen. However, the Mets fell to the Guardians, marking their seventh defeat in eight outings, with a close score of 3-2.

Holmes faced little challenge with quick substitutions, marking a shift in his role as a starting pitcher after years in the bullpen during his major league career.

“I felt good… I think Mendoza made the choice he believed was right for the team,” Holmes reflected. “When you’re in a tight race and you have a strong bullpen like ours, some decisions are tough and not entirely in your hands.”

He continued, “He made the call, thinking it was best for winning.”

Gregory Soto came in to replace Holmes in the sixth inning, allowing a run to the Guardians right after.

Holmes had an impressive start, retiring the first nine batters he encountered while the Mets jumped ahead 2-0 early in the game.

Cleveland managed to equalize in the fourth inning, thanks to RBI singles from Kyle Manzardo and Gabriel Arias, although Holmes delivered another scoreless inning in the fifth.

Mendoza later noted, “We set up wisely. Holmes was solid early on, and I saw those four innings, they worked hard against him.”

“I anticipated being aggressive there… he did his part, no doubt.”

Now a starter following a lucrative three-year contract worth $38 million, Holmes transitioned from being a closer after spending several years closing games for the Yankees.

The 32-year-old righty is currently at 122⅓ innings, breaking his previous record of 52⅓ innings set in 2021 with the Pirates and Yankees.

“I feel really encouraged at this point in the season. But you can’t lose sight of the bigger picture,” Holmes noted. “It’s challenging to stretch your innings, especially now as we’re vying for the playoffs. We all need to be at our best.”

“My innings are there, and we simply want to keep feeling good. I believe I’m in a solid spot right now.”