Clay Holmes and the New York Mets (17-26) took on the New York Yankees (28-17), leading off the first of two Subway Series’ this season. Friday night’s game kicked off a three-game set with the Yankees, where Cam Schlittler and company allowed just two runs on five hits in a 5-2 Mets loss.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Holmes began his start in strong fashion, setting down all three Yankees in a scoreless top of the first inning with two strikeouts, the only blemish coming on catcher’s interference to back-to-back American League MVP Aaron Judge. The Mets went down in order in the bottom of the inning, leaving the game scoreless after one.
After two strong innings from both Holmes and Schlittler, the Yankees struck first in the top of the third on an RBI double by Cody Bellinger. The scoring did not end there, as a second double, this time driving in two, by Jazz Chisholm Jr. made it 3-0 Yankees in the middle of the third inning.
After the Mets failed to score in the bottom of the third, the Yankees loaded the bases with two outs for Judge. However, Holmes jammed the slugger, resulting in a lazy flyout, and escaped the inning unscathed.
Holmes was taken out of the game after 4 1/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. Manager Carlos Mendoza revealed after the game that he suffered a fractured fibula on a line drive off the bat of Spencer Jones, which will keep him out for an extended period of time.
Austin Warren replaced him, and allowed the inherited runner to score to make it 4-0 Yankees.
Warren stayed on for the top of the sixth inning and set the Yankees down in order, lowering his season ERA to 0.71. The Mets came to bat in the bottom of the sixth, where they once again went down in order, mustering just one hit over six innings.
Tobias Myers replaced Warren in the top of the seventh, where the right-hander worked a scoreless inning. In the bottom of the inning, Juan Soto finally got the Mets on the board when he hit his 250th career home run. A two-out Brett Baty walk knocked Schlittler out of the game, and a Marcus Semien infield single brought the tying run to bat. However, an A.J. Ewing flyout would strand the pair, with the score standing at 4-1 Yankees after seven.
Myers returned for the top of the eighth, where he was once again effective, pitching a second scoreless inning in relief. His season ERA dropped down to 3.25 as a result.
Craig Kimbrel relieved Myers in the top of the ninth, where he was rudely greeted by a Ben Rice solo home run. However, the veteran would limit any further damage, keeping the Yankees’ lead at 5-1.
In the bottom of the inning, Soto lead off with a walk. A Mark Vientos double play would erase the runner, before MJ Melendez tallied a two-out single. Brett Baty singled in Melendez after he took second on defensive indifference. However, a Semien lineout would spoil a rally opportunity for the Mets.
Player of the Game: Juan Soto
Despite going just 1-for-3 with a walk at the plate, Soto was responsible for the only Mets run of the game. His seventh inning home run off of Schlittler was the 250th of his career, becoming the 42nd fastest player in MLB history to reach the milestone. It was Soto’s sixth long ball of the season, and his second in as many days.
On Deck
The Mets will resume action on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. EST in the middle contest of the three-game set against the Yankees. The Mets will use an opener, likely setting up David Peterson for a bulk relief appearance. The game will stream live on FOX, with radio on WCBS 880, and the Audacy app.
