Holmes Reaches Five Innings, Kranick Struggles in Fall 4-1 Loss to Nats
With just two weeks away from the start of the regular season, the New York Mets turned to their Opening Day starter against the Washington Nationals on Saturday. Clay Holmes was announced as the Mets Opening Day starter on Friday by manager Carlos Mendoza. Holmes will become the fourth different pitcher to start on Opening Day for the Mets in the last four seasons. New York would fall to the Nationals on this day 4-1.
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Holmes Pitches into The 5th.
Holmes has been one of the brighter stories coming out of spring training for the Mets. His performances have left people excited for his potential as a starter. However, it is still a transition for him, and New York is trying to get him used to being a starter again. Holmes was getting pushed to five innings on Saturday. It was so far, so good, for Holmes through the first three innings. He struck out two and allowed no hits. The 4th and 5th innings brought him trouble. In the 4th, he allowed a leadoff single to Robert Hassell III, and Paul DeJong drove him in with a double two batters later.
In the 5th, Holmes gave up a one-out single to Andrew Pickney. Mendoza took out Holmes after that for Max Kranick. Overall, Holmes finished his day going 4 1/3 innings and allowed 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts. His spring training ERA is now 1.29.
Kranick Has First Rough Outing Of Spring
Another good story for the Mets in camp has been the emergence of Max Kranick. Kranick had allowed no runs through 5 spring training games and striking out 10. His performance has earned him praise and a possible spot in the bullpen. Saturday, however, brought him his first taste of adversity. After relieving Holmes, Kranick gave up a triple to Daylen Lile that scored Pickney to tie the game 1-1. In the bottom of the 6th, Kranick allowed a single to Nathaniel Lowe, walked DeJong, a wild pitch, then advanced the runners, and then José Tena doubled in Lowe. That gave the Nationals a 2-1 lead, and Kranick was pulled from the game for Joshua Cornielly.
Brandon Nimmo DH’s
Since he’s been dealing with knee soreness all spring, it will be some time before Brandon Nimmo sees the outfield. For now, the Mets are preparing for the possibility that Nimmo will be the designated hitter on Opening Day. Nimmo was the designated hitter and leading off on Saturday, while Jesse Winker started in left field. Nimmo went 0-for-3 with a walk. While the expectation was for Nimmo to be in left field and for Winker to be the designated hitter, Nimmo’s knee not being 100% yet complicates things.
Player Of The Game: Clay Holmes
Holmes may have faded a bit towards the end, but he started out strong as he pitched into the 5th inning for the first time this spring and struck out two in the outing.
On Deck
The Mets head home to Port St. Lucie on Sunday to face the Houston Astros. Tylor Megill gets the start for the Mets against Steven Okert of the Astros. The game will be televised locally on WPIX at 1:10 pm EDT.
Spring Breakout
On Sunday evening, it’s the Spring Breakout game. The Mets’ top prospects will face the Nationals’ top prospects in West Palm Beach. Jonah Tong will start for the Mets. The game will be televised on SNY at 5:05 pm EDT.
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