UPDATE: The New York Mets are still in the playoff hunt after a crucial 5-0 victory against the Miami Marlins on September 30, 2023. With their postseason hopes on the line, pitcher Clay Holmes delivered a career-best performance, allowing just one hit over six scoreless innings.
Facing potential elimination, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was prepared to use every available pitcher to keep their postseason dreams alive. Thanks to Holmes’ jaw-dropping outing, that was not necessary. “That’s the exact outing that we needed today,” said Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, who contributed with a home run and two RBIs. “He really stepped up. That was a big-time outing for him. Just unbelievable.”
The Mets now sit half a game ahead of the Cincinnati Reds for the third and final National League wild-card spot, with the Reds scheduled to play later today. This means the Mets’ playoff fate will be determined in tomorrow’s Game 162. “It’s a game we had to win today, and I just went out there and gave it my all,” Holmes stated post-game. “Once we finish the job, get in the playoffs, I’ll be a little bit more satisfied.”
Holmes, who had not started a game in 11 days, displayed resilience after struggling in previous outings. He threw only 78 pitches while securing 18 outs, marking his first game completing six innings since August 23. The Mets took a calculated risk when they signed him to a three-year, $38 million contract this offseason, and it has already begun to pay off.
Utilizing a unique strategy of switching sides on the mound, Holmes kept hitters guessing throughout the game. “It’s just a different window that hitters have to look at,” he explained, adding that this approach took advantage of his east-west movement. His performance capped off a season in which he ended with a 12-8 record and a 3.53 ERA over a career-high 165.2 innings.
Historically, the Mets have struggled in similar situations. In past seasons, pitchers like John Maine and Johan Santana delivered dominant performances in crucial games only to see the team fall short the next day. As the Mets gear up for their final game of the regular season, Alonso voiced the team’s hopes for a different outcome this year. “All I can say is, for today at least, ‘Go, Brewers,'” he said, referencing the team’s reliance on the Milwaukee Brewers to help secure a playoff spot.
The stakes could not be higher for the Mets as they prepare for tomorrow’s decisive game. Fans eagerly await to see if they can clinch a spot in the postseason. Stay tuned for updates as this thrilling story continues to unfold.
