Mets Pull Out Gritty Walk-Off Win Over White Sox

The Mets (33-21) still aren’t right offensively, and they haven’t been for a while, but they’ve been recording some gritty wins lately, which is what good teams do. After being shut down for the first seven innings of Monday’s game against old friend Adrian Houser and the White Sox (17-37), the Mets rallied late and secured a tough 2-1 walk-off win.

The Mets’ offense was nonexistent for the majority of the game against Adrian Houser, who was, in nice terms, not great for the Mets last year with a 5.84 ERA and a midseason DFA. He was dominant in Monday’s game, though, as he retired 16 consecutive batters without allowing much, if any, hard contact after a first inning double to Brandon Nimmo. His next baserunner came with two outs in the sixth inning when Francisco Lindor singled through the right side of the infield. Lindor was erased after Nimmo proceeded to strike out to end the inning.

Clay Holmes, meanwhile, did his best to keep the Mets in the game. He allowed just one run in 5 2/3 innings, the run occurring on a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Holmes pitched into the sixth inning, though he exited the game with two outs and the bases loaded after a pair of infield singles and a walk, all occurring with two outs. José Buttó came into the game and got the crucial final out of the inning, a massive one considering Buttó’s struggles with inherited runners this year.

Clay Holmes, Nasty 94mph Sinker. ???? pic.twitter.com/Go832QCkNL

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 26, 2025

The game remained 1-0 in favor of the White Sox into the seventh inning, when Houser experienced his first moment of vulnerability by walking Juan Soto and allowing a Pete Alonso single with no outs. That knocked Houser out of the game, bringing in the rookie lefty Brandon Eisert. A pair of fielder’s choices and a walk brought Jeff McNeil to the plate in the Mets’ best scoring chance yet with the bases loaded and two outs, but McNeil struck out looking at a borderline strike to end the inning and ensure Houser an outing of six innings and no runs allowed.

After failing to score in the seventh, the Mets got another chance to threaten in the eighth after Francisco Alvarez led off the inning with a base hit. Luisangel Acuña pinch ran and advanced to third base on a one-out single from Brandon Nimmo. That brought up Juan Soto in a massive spot, and Soto delivered with a sacrifice fly to get the Mets on the board and tie the game. The Mets subsequently loaded the bases with Brett Baty up at the plate, but he flew out to keep the game tied.

Edwin Díaz worked around a two-out walk in the ninth inning to send the game to the bottom of the inning, giving the Mets a chance to walk off a game that seemed for the longest time like it would be a devastating loss. Tyrone Taylor led off the inning with a booming double in the left-center field gap before Jeff McNeil was intentionally walked. Luis Torrens tried to bunt at first but swung away at the second pitch and singled into left field to load the bases with no outs.

That brought Francisco Lindor to the plate, and he skied one into right field deep enough to bring home Tyrone Taylor and secure the victory. Lindor’s walk-off RBI was already his third of the season, giving the Mets an unlikely win for their third in a row.

Stat of the Game: A New Career High for Holmes

With his outing in Monday’s game, Clay Holmes threw 102 pitches, a new high mark for his career. Holmes has obviously been a reliever for most of it, but he began his career as a starter with the Pirates. He has now pitched at least 5 2/3 innings in each of his last five outings and at least five innings in each of his last nine.

Player of the Game: Francisco Lindor

Lindor didn’t have his best game, going 1-for-4, but his sacrifice fly was the at-bat to seal the deal. Lindor has proven more than once this year that he’s the man you want at the plate in a walk-off situation, and he proved that right again when he won Monday’s game for the Mets.

On Deck

The Mets’ series with the White Sox continues Tuesday, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Tylor Megill (3-4, 3.56 ERA) will try to build off his previous solid start against the Red Sox, while Shane Smith (1-3, 2.36 ERA), who has been great this year, will go for Chicago. The game will air on SNY.

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