Clay Holmes gave the New York Mets exactly what their rotation has been missing, length and command, while the offense erupted for six home runs in a 9-2 rout of the Atlanta Braves on Saturday night at Truist Park.
Holmes worked into the seventh inning for the first time in nearly three months, allowing just two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks. It marked the second straight night a Mets starter went at least seven innings, following rookie Nolan McLean’s gem on Friday. Holmes was aided by Starling Marte, who homered, stole two bases and threw out a runner at the plate in a standout all-around performance.
At the plate, Jeff McNeil and Mark Vientos each went deep twice, while Pete Alonso and Marte added solo shots. McNeil, returning from a two-game absence with shoulder soreness, broke the game open with a three-run homer in the third. The Mets later erupted in the seventh, when Alonso, Vientos, and Marte launched back-to-back-to-back blasts to push the lead from one run to five. Vientos added his second homer of the night in the ninth, followed by another from McNeil to cap the power display.
New York has now hit 29 homers in their last 11 games and won five of their last seven. They remain six games behind Philadelphia in the National League East but continue to hold the final wild-card spot.
Box Score | NL Wild Card Standings
The Mets (69-60) look to complete the three-game sweep of the Braves (58-71) on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. David Peterson will face Atlanta’s Bryce Elder.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].