Mets' bats falter in loss to Diamondbacks in Arizona
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza watches the action during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday in Phoenix. Credit: AP/Ross D. Franklin
PHOENIX — Merrill Kelly bounced back from three straight shaky starts to pitch seven effective innings and the Diamondbacks defeated the Mets, 2-1, Saturday night.
Kelly (2-3) allowed a run on three hits and Paul Sewald worked a perfect ninth for his eighth save in as many chances. It was Arizona's third win in 11 games.
Mets starter Clay Holmes (4-3) allowed a two-run single to Ildemaro Vargas in the third inning, but was otherwise sharp, allowing two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.
The Mets fell to 15-24 overall. They are 5-3 over their current road trip, with one game left against the Diamondbacks (18-20) on Sunday before returning to Citi Field for a six-game homestand against the Tigers and Yankees.
Holmes got little help from the Mets' offense, which had three hits a night after pulling out a 3-1 win in 10 innings over the Diamondbacks.
Kelly allowed Brett Baty's RBI single in the second inning and stranded two in the fifth after Tyrone Taylor's two-out double. Juan Soto was intentionally walked before Bo Bichette flied out to left to end the fifth.
Holmes worked around Adrian Del Castillo's leadoff double in the second inning before running into trouble when Arizona loaded the bases in the third. Vargas lined a two-run single, but Holmes retired the next nine batters until being lifted following Nolan Arenado's two-out single in the sixth.
Holmes had six strikeouts and two walks. He's allowed two or fewer earned runs in all eight starts this season.
