Merrill Kelly outduels Clay Holmes in Mets' 2-1 loss to Diamondbacks

[ASFN Admin]

The Mets lost the second game of this weekend's three-game series at the Arizona Diamondbacks, ending up on the wrong end of a pitcher's duel in a 2-1 loss.

Takeaways​

1. New York RHP Clay Holmes has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his eight starts this season. He allowed two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking two in 5.2 IP. Holmes (4-3, 1.86 ERA) was the tough-luck loser after throwing 64 strikes on 103 pitches -- one short of his career-high 104 that he threw in last June's 7-1 loss at the Atlanta Braves -- and continuing to be nails as the Mets (15-24) struggle offensively. Ildemaro Vargas's two-run single with the bases loaded and two outs in the third inning was the difference, but Holmes rebounded by retiring the next nine batters before Nolan Arenado's two-out single three frames later ended Holmes's night.
2. As a result of Holmes's quality start, New York did not need to dig into its bullpen much. It tapped Austin Warren, who recorded the sixth inning's final out before pitching a scoreless seventh and handing the ball to Craig Kimbrel for the eighth. Kimbrel walked the frame's first two batters before settling in and retiring the next three, including an inning-ending Lourdes Gurriel Jr. strikeout swinging on an 86.2 mph sweeper to keep the score at 2-1. Beyond Holmes, Warren and Kimbrel kept the Mets in the game and give the bullpen a breather entering Sunday's finale.
3. Batting seventh,Brett Baty bounced back from an 0-for-4 line in Friday's 3-1 win by driving home the Mets' only run of Saturday's game. With two outs in the second inning, Baty picked up Marcus Semien's single by splitting the right-center gap for an RBI double that drew first blood and gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.
4. Leadoff-hittingJuan Soto's back-to-back games without a hit featured an intentional walk in the fifth inning that took the bat out of his hands when he could have done some damage. After Tyrone Taylor's two-out double, the Diamondbacks put Soto on and Bo Bichette's flyout to left field stranded the Mets while staying down 2-1.

Who's the MVP?​

Merrill Kelly, who outdueled Holmes by allowing one run on three hits in seven frames. Kelly fanned six and walked three while throwing 58 strikes on 96 pitches for the Diamondbacks (18-20), who lost seven of their previous eight games before they evened the series Saturday.

Highlights​

Brett Baty doubles home Marcus Semien for the first run of the game! pic.twitter.com/7gxwucfsUb

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 9, 2026

What's next​

Sunday's 4:10 p.m. game on SNY, the series finale between the Mets and Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix, has southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez (3-0, 2.50 ERA) set to start for Arizona. New York manager Carlos Mendoza said before Saturday's game that the Mets would name a starter after assessing the bullpen's usage.

Continue reading...