Mets Clay Holmes hits new benchmark in longest start of career

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.The evolution of Clay Holmes took its next form Sunday, when a pitcher who has proven he can be a solid starter began proving he can be a lengthy starter, too.The former Yankees reliever had been strong in his first 11 starts as a Met, but had not recorded an out in the seventh inning.That changed against the Rockies at Citi Field, where Holmes completed the seventh inning in his longest start as a major leaguer, as efficient as he ever has been in a 5-3, sweep-clinching victory.“I feel like I have the ability to fill the strike zone up right now and let the defense work,” said Holmes, who recorded just three strikeouts and four outs via fly balls because he consistently induced ground balls.Manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged that the presence of Holmes — a ground-ball artist — influenced his decision to play what probably is his best defensive alignment, with Brett Baty at third base and Luisangel Acuña at second.Holmes relied heavily on his sinker and sweeper (while laying off his kick-change), which kept the infield busy.Baty looked smooth in charging a slow chopper from Jordan Beck, whom Baty threw out at first.

Acuña made a diving stop to his left to record the final out of the top of the sixth.“When you just trust the defense and get the ground balls, things tend to turn out pretty well,” said Holmes, who needed just 85 pitches to complete seven innings in which he allowed three runs on three hits with zero walks.The runs came from two Holmes pitches, the first an Orlando Arcia home run in the first and the next a two-run shot from Tyler Freeman in the fifth.The flat slider that Freeman crushed was Holmes’ only regret.But on a day Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto went deep, the Mets did not need Holmes to be perfect and were thrilled he went deep, too.“Our bullpen’s been great,” said Holme...