Clay Holmes keeps Mets’ string of strong starts going in win over Cardinals

ST. LOUIS — Clay Holmes was on the brink of completing six innings Monday in his initial start this season before he threw a cutter that didn’t cooperate.

Nolan Gorman swatted the pitch beyond the right field fence, prompting manager Carlos Mendoza to leave the dugout and retrieve Holmes.

An additional out would have been nice, but even so, the Mets received an acceptable performance from a starter for a third straight game, in a 4-2 victory over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Holmes, who was last seen giving the Mets life with a strong outing in Game No. 161 last season in Miami, resumed where his 2025 ended. On this night the right-hander allowed two earned runs on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks, departing after 90 pitches.

The Mets (3-1) settled the matter in nine innings after two straight days playing extra frames. They split those games against the Pirates, receiving solid performances from David Peterson and Nolan McLean in the process.

The rotation will flip over Wednesday with Freddy Peralta’s return from his underwhelming Opening Day start, but first the Mets will see Kodai Senga make his first start of the season. The Japanese right-hander is scheduled for Tuesday’s start as he looks to begin showing the team he can reemerge, following a hideous second half last season, as a trusted rotation piece.

Holmes, relying on his sinker, produced nine outs on ground balls. He navigated early traffic and was on a roll of seven straight batters retired before Gorman’s blast ended his night.

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Tobias Myers provided 1 ¹/₃ perfect innings in relief with three strikeouts before Brooks Raley pitched a scoreless eighth. Devin Williams earned his first save for the Mets with a perfect ninth.

The Mets scratched for their runs, receiving two RBIs from Bo Bichette and two hits apiece from Jorge Polanco and Carson Benge. Juan Soto reached base three times.

Francisco Lindor’s triple leading off the game positioned the Mets for their first run. Bichette delivered the RBI with a groundout to the right side. It was the second RBI of the season for Bichette, who finished 1-for-14 on his initial Mets homestand and heard boos Sunday.

The Cardinals recovered the run in the bottom of the first on Alec Burleson’s RBI single. Holmes’ balk moved JJ Wetherholt — who walked leading off — to third base before Burleson delivered.

Burleson’s two-out double in the third and Masyn Wynn’s ensuing walk gave the Cardinals a threat, but Holmes escaped by retiring Gorman. In the fourth, Holmes got Pedro Pagés to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Bichette stroked an RBI single in the fifth that gave the Mets a 2-1 lead against Kyle Leahy. Benge’s leadoff single and a walk to Lindor fueled the rally. Bichette delivered with two outs.

Jared Young’s RBI double in the sixth widened the lead to 3-1 and knocked out Leahy. Brett Baty singled leading off and Young’s ensuing double gave the Mets consecutive hits for the first time in the game.

Francisco Alvarez walked with two outs and Lindor got plunked to load the bases. Soto drew a walk, extending the Mets lead to 4-1 before Bichette was retired to end the inning.