Merrill Kelly outduels Clay Holmes in Mets' 2-1 loss to Diamondbacks

The Mets lost the second game of this weekend's three-game series at the Arizona Diamondbacks, ending up on the wrong end of a pitcher's duel in a 2-1 loss.

Takeaways

1. New York RHP Clay Holmes has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his eight starts this season. He allowed two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking two in 5.2 IP. Holmes (4-3, 1.86 ERA) was the tough-luck loser after throwing 64 strikes on 103 pitches -- one short of his career-high 104 that he threw in last June's 7-1 loss at the Atlanta Braves -- and continuing to be nails as the Mets (15-24) struggle offensively. Ildemaro Vargas's two-run single with the bases loaded and two outs in the third inning was the difference, but Holmes rebounded by retiring the next nine batters before Nolan Arenado's two-out single three frames later ended Holmes's night.
2. As a result of Holmes's quality start, New York did not need to dig into its bullpen much. It tapped Austin Warren, who recorded the sixth inning's final out before pitching a scoreless seventh and handing the ball to Craig Kimbrel for the eighth. Kimbrel walked the frame's first two batters before settling in and retiring the next three, including an inning-ending Lourdes Gurriel Jr. strikeout swinging on an 86.2 mph sweeper to keep the score at 2-1. Beyond Holmes, Warren and Kimbrel kept the Mets in the game and give the bullpen a breather entering Sunday's finale.