Mets stay alive in playoff chase with six-scoreless innings from Clay Holmes in 5-0 win over Marlins

Clay Holmes pitched six scoreless innings as the Mets combined for a one-hitter in a 5-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday at loanDepot Park, keeping their postseason hopes alive into the final day.

Holmes, who had lasted six innings in a start only once since June 7, was pressed into a relief role three days earlier but rose to the moment, scattering one hit with three walks and two strikeouts over 78 pitches before handing the game to a shut-down bullpen. Brooks Raley, Tyler Rogers and Edwin Diaz worked the final nine outs as New York closed out the win.

The Mets grabbed the lead in the first when Pete Alonso doubled to drive in the game’s first run. Francisco Lindor walked leading off and moved to second on a wild pitch before Alonso delivered. Brandon Nimmo followed with a single to put runners on the corners before Nimmo stole second, but Starling Marte and Jeff McNeil were retired to end the threat. Alonso added a solo homer in the third, a full-count drive to left-center off Eury Perez for his 38th homer of the season and his 126th RBI.

Holmes retired the first eight batters before Heriberto Hernandez drew a two-out walk in the third and Xavier Edwards singled, but the right-hander recovered to set down Jakob Marsee and finish the frame. He remained spotless until the sixth, when Jeff McNeil lined a two-out double to extend the Mets’ lead to 3-0. Alonso walked and reached second on a balk earlier in the inning, setting up McNeil for the key two-out hit.

New York padded its lead in the ninth when Lindor lined an RBI single after Francisco Alvarez and Tyrone Taylor singled. The Mets then scored the final run on a wild pitch by George Soriano that allowed Taylor to score from third, making it 5-0.

The win left New York at 83-78, still awaiting the outcome of Saturday’s late games to determine whether they would reach the NL’s third and final wild-card berth. Cincinnati entered the day tied with the Mets for that spot, but the Reds own the tiebreaker and played later in Milwaukee.

Holmes’s performance echoed the kind of late-season clutch outings used to stabilize the rotation. Mets fans were reminded of John Maine and Johan Santana, who delivered strong performances against the Marlins in Game 161 in 2007 and 2008, though those hopes did not come to fruition in time to reach the postseason. The Mets now face a decisive Sunday with everything still to play for, including one last chance to extend their season.