Holmes Has Found A New Home In Flushing

 

Clay Holmes fires one in to Chicago's Mike Tauchman in the fourth inning. Photo by Jason Schott.

Clay Holmes established himself as a reliable closer in The Bronx, but it was the team in Flushing that saw what he really could be.

The Mets signed the tall right-hander in the off-season after an extended run with the Yankees, where he racked up 74 saves in three seasons. 

In 2024, Holmes had 30 saves and made his second All-Star team, but he wound up losing the closer's role in the second half of the season to Luke Weaver after a string of blown saves.

Holmes had not started a game since 2018, his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, so the Mets were taking a gamble.

It was one that paid off so much that the Mets made Holmes their Opening Day starter in Houston. He became the seventh Mets pitcher to make their team debut in a season opener, Roger Craig in 1962, Don Cardwell (1967), Mike Hampton in 2000, Tom Glavine ('03), Pedro Martinez ('05), and Johan Santana in ('08).

Not surprisingly, it looked like it was his first time starting in seven years, as he only went 4 2/3 innings, and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks, with just four strikeouts, in a 3-1 loss to the Astros.

The key to the outing was that Houston hit the ball in just the right spots, and basically singled the Mets to death. 

After another road start in Miami on April 2 with a similar final line, Holmes faced the Marlins in New York on April 8.

In a 10-5 Mets win, Holmes pitched into the six innings, as he scattered four runs (all earned) on five hits and three walks, while striking out 10, a career high. He became the fifth Met in franchise history to notch 10 or more strikeouts in his home debut, with the most recent instance Max Scherzer on April 19, 2022 in the second game of a doubleheader against San Francisco.

That start began a run in which Holmes won five straight decisions, with a no-decision on April 20 against St. Louis thrown in.

On Monday against the Chicago White Sox, Holmes opened the game with a walk to Chase Meidroth, and then retired the next nine hitters.

Then, Mike Tauchman drew a walk to open the frame, and came in to score on a sacrifice fly from Andrew Benintendi.

In the fifth, Holmes worked around a double by Edgar Quero to keep Chicago off the board, but the Sox had a two-out rally in the sixth, as Benintendi and Luis Robert Jr. both singled and Joshua Palacios (Brooklyn's own) walked to load the bases and end Holmes' evening.

Jose Butto came on and he got Quero to bounce one to second base to end the frame and close the book on Holmes. He went 5 2/3 inning, and allowed one run (earned) on four hits and three walks, with three strikeouts. 

It was just the third time this season Holmes had three or less K's. He has 56 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings.

Despite giving up just one run, Chicago starter Adrian Houser outdueled him, as he threw six shutout innings, and allowed just three hits and a walk. This was a measure of revenge for Houser, who spent time with the Mets last season.

The Mets finally tied it in the eighth inning when Francisco Alvarez led off with a single, and pinch-runner Luisangel Acuna came in to score on a Juan Soto sacrifice fly.

Tyrone Taylor led off the bottom of the ninth with a double, and the Mets loaded the bases with nobody out for Francisco Lindor, who hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in the winning run, giving the Mets the 2-1 win.

Holmes' record remains at 5-3 on the season, but his ERA (earned run average) dipped from 3.13 to 2.98.

MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE: Members of the Armed Services joined the Mets and White Sox on the first and third base lines during the National Anthem.

The Mets head to the field to join the soldiers. Photos by Jason Schott.