Clay Holmes continues to suggest that he can cut it as a starter in the majors, after all, with another strong outing during the New York Mets’ 5-0 spring training win over the Houston Astros on Thursday afternoon.
The former Yankees’ closer went three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out two. He threw 42 pitches as he continues to stretch out toward a starter’s workload.
The 31-year-old right-hander has yet to allow a run in six spring innings with his expanded arsenal. He was a three-pitch pitcher last season with the Yankees, relying on a 96-mph sinker, an 87-mph slider, and an 83-mph sweeper. A four-seam fastball has been developed, as well.
“I thought he was good again,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He attacked the zone, used all of his pitches… The sinker was good, the four-seam was good, the slider, sweeper, cutter. Another good outing for him.”
Max Kranick and Griffin Canning — two key depth options for the Mets’ rotation — combined for 2.2 strong scoreless innings.
First-base prospect Ryan Clifford and third baseman Brett Baty provided the power surge to pace the offense, as each hit a two-run home run in a four-run sixth inning.
Clifford, who could potentially be the franchise’s future first baseman, lined his first home run of the spring in his first at-bat of the afternoon over the right-field wall. Baty followed with his second round-tripper of the exhibition season, a 109-foot laser roughly where Clifford’s bomb went, improving his OPS to 1.727.
While Clifford still has some time to marinate in the minors, Baty is continuing his strong case to break camp as the Mets’ primary utility infielder to back up Mark Vientos at third base.
