SouthernWorldwide.com – The New York Mets’ starting rotation suffered a significant setback on Friday night.
Starting pitcher Clay Holmes sustained a broken right leg after being struck by an 111 mph line drive from New York Yankees designated hitter Spencer Jones during the Mets’ 5-2 loss at Citi Field.
In the top of the fourth inning, with the Mets trailing 3-0, Jones hit Holmes’ 94 mph sinker directly back at him. The ball deflected off Holmes’ leg into foul territory on the first-base side. The 33-year-old pitcher managed to jog to first base before being attended to by trainers and manager Carlos Mendoza.
Holmes remained in the game despite the fracture. He issued six consecutive balls but then recorded back-to-back strikeouts and retired Aaron Judge on a fly ball with the bases loaded to end the scoreless inning.
Holmes was removed from the game after a walk with one out in the fifth inning. He threw a total of 95 pitches, including 26 while facing seven batters after being hit by Jones’ line drive.
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“He said he was fine. That’s the crazy part. We went out, checked him out, threw a couple pitches, was able to finish the inning,” Mendoza stated. “Comes back in and he didn’t even give me a chance. He said, ‘I’m good to go back out,’ and he goes back out there. Sent him for X-rays and this is what we’re dealing with now.”
Mendoza confirmed that X-rays revealed a fractured right fibula, which will sideline Holmes “for a long time.”
“That’s the hard part to understand. He was fine, we checked him, finished the inning, he goes back out because he feels good. And then the last pitch, something didn’t look right. He came out, I’m talking to him in the dugout, he’s like, yeah, something didn’t feel right,” Mendoza added.
Holmes had been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season for the Mets. In nine starts, he posted a 2.39 ERA with 45 strikeouts over 52 2/3 innings.
In the loss, Holmes (4-4) was responsible for four runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out eight batters and walking two. Prior to Friday’s game, he ranked third in the National League with a 1.86 ERA.
The Mets starting pitcher signed a three-year, $38 million contract with the team as a free agent in the 2025 offseason. Holmes, who was a reliever with the Yankees, was successfully converted into a starter by the Mets and had been a dependable presence in the rotation.
“It’s a huge blow. He’s been one of our most consistent guys that we have in our rotation,” Mendoza commented.
Jones, who trains with Holmes in Nashville during the offseason, expressed his dismay upon hearing the news.
“It’s tough to hear,” Jones said. “I hit the ball and then I saw it come back towards me. It sounded loud.”
“He’s a tough guy. Workhorse. Competitor. Says a lot about who he is to go back out there again the next inning with a broken leg. It’s incredible.”
The loss extended the Mets’ losing streak, dropping their record to 18-26. They currently occupy the last place in the National League East standings, trailing the first-place Atlanta Braves (31-14) by 12.5 games.
The Mets will aim to rebound against the Yankees (28-17) on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET in the second game of the Subway Series.
