Mets' Clay Holmes Reaches Career First Seven-Inning Start in Sweep Win

Clay Holmes, a former reliever turned starter for the New York Mets, reached a new milestone by pitching seven innings for the first time in his career during a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Despite giving up two solo home runs, Holmes was efficient, needing only 85 pitches and relying on his sinker and sweeper to induce ground balls, allowing the Mets to use a strong defensive alignment. He has now made 12 starts this season with a 3.07 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP, demonstrating consistency with five quality starts in his last ten outings and totaling 67.1 innings pitched. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza praised Holmes for the life on his pitches and effective command, highlighting Holmes’ growing reliability in the rotation amid injuries to other starters. Holmes’ success has bolstered the Mets' pitching staff, which boasts one of the best team ERAs in baseball, and as other pitchers recover, the rotation is expected to strengthen further. The transition from bullpen to starting rotation has proven fruitful for Holmes and the Mets, showcasing his ability to provide quality innings and sustain performance as a starter.