Hook, Line, and Clay Holmes’ Sinker: Mets Flip the Fish with Late-Game Heroics
The Mets never say die. New York wrapped up their season-opening road trip in Miami with a gutsy, come-from-behind 6-5 win in 11 innings, taking down the Marlins in a game laced with late-game heroics, overturned calls, and absolute heaters off Pete Alonso’s (non-torpedo) bat.
Holmes Flashes Promise as Starter, Still Finding His Sea Legs
Transitioning from late-inning reliever to starting pitcher is no small task, and Clay Holmes is living through that learning curve in real time. His night was a mixed bag—flashes of dominance when he flexed his kick-change, followed by moments where old habits crept in, and he relied too heavily on his sinker and cutter in this outing.
2 FEET of Run on this Sinker from Clay Holmes. 📏📏 pic.twitter.com/vsIbLq8O3V
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 2, 2025
He got through the first two innings relatively unscathed, striking out three and getting plenty of weak contact. The third inning, though, was where things nearly unraveled. A leadoff single, a walk, and an infield hit loaded the bases with no outs. Holmes limited the damage to just two runs, even with an errant throw home from Mark Vientos.
His fourth inning was a breeze—three up, three down on just 11 pitches. But with two outs in the fifth and his pitch count climbing, Carlos Mendoza made the call to the bullpen.
Clay Holmes navigated around a few tough situations to return a solid start for the Mets today
His command was sharper and his stuff looked crisper compared to his debut. He continues to struggle generating whiffs, but his increased kick changeup usage is encouraging! pic.twitter.com/Be2QEq7u8Y
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) April 2, 2025
Holmes finished with 4.2 innings, six hits, two walks, and six strikeouts on 85 pitches. Not perfect, but not disastrous. The raw talent is there, and if he continues refining his approach, he’ll start turning these outings into wins.
Pete Alonso, Clutch McGlutch
Alonso wasted no time, ripping an RBI double in the first to bring in Juan Soto after his one-out single. He followed it up with another rocket double in the fourth, one-hopping the wall in left-center.
The Polar Bear gets us going! 🐻❄️👏 pic.twitter.com/krYtDwEJpZ
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 2, 2025
Run Juan Run pic.twitter.com/XyskokM273
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) April 2, 2025
Shoutout to Senger
Rookie catcher Hayden Senger made his mark. In the fifth, he laced a line-drive double to right-center for his first big-league hit, sitting back on a low sweeper and driving it the other way—a well-earned moment for the 27-year-old whose grind and offseason storyline touched the hearts of many baseball fans ahead of his debut this year.
Save that baseball!
Hayden Senger’s got his first big league hit 👏 pic.twitter.com/gCjoDOCJCt
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 2, 2025
Luis Torrens Steals the Show
Luis Torrens entered as a pinch-hitter for Senger in the eighth and immediately took over the game after some defensive bobbles. In the bottom half, with the Marlins threatening, Otto Lopez broke for home on a grounder to third.
Brett Baty fielded it cleanly and came up firing, a laser throw right on the money to Torrens, who secured the ball and laid down a textbook tag.
HAVE AN INNING, LUIS TORRENS! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/zJTAhjz5Eb
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 2, 2025
Initially called safe, the ruling was overturned after a review, flipping a potential go-ahead Marlins run into a massive out.
Griffin Conine tested Torrens one batter later, taking off for second—bad idea.
Torrens uncorked a missile to Baty, who slapped the tag down in one smooth motion, completing the back-to-back defensive gems that shifted the momentum squarely in New York’s favor.
THE CALL IS OVERTURNED!
Luis Torrens gets the tag down at home and the game stays tied! pic.twitter.com/TBJTD9QTO0
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 2, 2025
The Hammer(head?) Strikes Again
Then came the defining moment in the eighth. With the Mets trailing 4-1, Francisco Lindor lined a single to right, and Soto followed with another base hit, setting the stage for another cinematic moment for “Polar Bear” Pete.
Alonso got a fastball over the heart of the plate and did what he does best, sending a 415-foot, three-run absolute heater to center to tie the game 4-4.
All three hits he had tonight recorded an exit velocity of over 113mph.
THE POLAR BEAR DELIVERS 🐻❄️ pic.twitter.com/0bWjM56qYt
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 2, 2025
This shot was his second of the season, and his plate discipline looks razor-sharp. The Mets needed a hero, and Alonso answered. He tends to do that.
Pete Alonso today:
114.5 mph —double
113.4 mph —home run
113.1 mph —double
107.1 mph —lineout— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) April 2, 2025
Script (and Jesse’s Bat) Flipped in Late Innings
In the 11th, Soto started on second and wasted no time making his presence felt. Alonso drew a walk, and Brandon Nimmo followed by roping a single to center to load the bases.
Jesse Winker stepped in and watched four balls sail by. The first hit the dirt, the second whizzed by parallel to his heart, the third nearly kissed the plate, and the fourth so high it needed FAA clearance. Before trotting to first to advance go-ahead Soto in, Jesse (quite literally) chucked his bat away, and honestly, I just felt like the clip should be included here.
That toss is unreal https://t.co/5epAB9xYD7
— Gab (@gabrielleraucci) April 3, 2025
Vientos followed with a grounder to short, but Miami botched the routine play, allowing Alonso to score one insurance run. The Mets couldn’t add more, but it proved to be enough.
Bullpen Holds It Down
José Buttó kept the Mets alive with two shutout innings of relief, handing the ball off to Danny Young to start the 11th. Young walked the leadoff man but bounced back with a strikeout before making way for Huascar Brazobán—who is STILL scoreless through 5.0 innings— to get out of the jam.
With the tying run on, he locked in—one flyout, one strikeout, and the Mets took the series with a final score of 6-5.
🫂🤝 #MetsWin #LGM pic.twitter.com/LOCozo3NYb
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 3, 2025
Headed Home: Fish Hooked, Blue Jays Next
The Mets return to Citi Field with momentum just in time for Friday’s home opener against the Blue Jays.
Tylor Megill gets the nod, looking to build on his strong spring and dominant first outing to set the tone in Queens. This road trip surely proved one thing—these Mets are never out of the game.
