The New York Mets need to win and get a lot of help to make it to the postseason after their loss to the Miami Marlins on Friday, and they got it on Saturday thanks to an outstanding performance by Clay Holmes. Riding Holmes’s performance, the Mets offense tacked on some runs thanks to a two-RBI day from Pete Alonso and eventually pulled away in the later innings. The bullpen then pitched three scoreless innings to give the Mets the win. With Saturday’s win, New York will play Game 162 tomorrow with a chance to make it to October, but again, they need help.

Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Clay Holmes Performs His Best

In his first year as a starting pitcher, Clay Holmes was overall steady for the Mets in a rotation that became in flux as the second half of the season went on. While David Peterson, Kodai Senga, and Sean Manaea struggled, Holmes still pitched well, even if his innings were limited. On Saturday, Holmes saved his best outing of the season for Game 161 when the Mets needed it most. Holmes went six innings of shutout baseball with two strikeouts. It may not have been a Johan Santana or John Maine outing, but it was just as important. Whether the Mets make the postseason or not, Holmes proved this season that he can be a starting pitcher in the big leagues. 

Pete Alonso Has A Big Day

The Mets’ offense still struggled with runners in scoring position, going 4-for-13, but Pete Alonso had a good day with two RBIs. Alonso got the Mets’ scoring started in the first inning with an RBI double, and then in the top of the third inning, Alonso hit his 38th home run of the season to give New York a 2-0 lead. Later in the game, Jeff McNeil, who was 3-for his last-40, hit an RBI double, and then Francisco Lindor‘s RBI single made it 4-0 Mets. Tyrone Taylor would score on a wild pitch for the Mets’ fifth run of the game.

Juan Soto Sets Mets Walk Record

Juan Soto had a quiet game on Saturday with his bat, but he was able to etch into the Mets’ history books in his first season with the team. Soto drew two walks on the day for 126 on the year, which breaks John Olerud‘s mark set in 1999.

Player of the Game: Clay Holmes

Holmes pitched his best outing of the season to get the Mets to Sunday still in it for the postseason.

On Deck

The Mets need a win and help to make the playoffs, and the Marlins will look to play spoiler. Everything, in a season with so many high expectations, comes down to Sunday’s game. New York has not announced a starter for Sunday, but the expectation is that it will be either Sean Manaea or David Peterson. The Marlins will pitch Edward Cabrera. The game will be telecast locally on SNY at 3:10 p.m. EDT and broadcast locally on WHSQ 880 AM.

 

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