Mets Ride Piggyback to Win Over Padres

Converted reliever Clay Holmes blew by his career high in innings pitched months ago. Sean Manaea‘s slump has been especially pronounced when he faces a batting order the second or third time through. In hindsight, maybe the Mets should have tried a Holmes-Manaea piggyback game sooner.

The duo were dynamic Tuesday, pitching nine innings in an 8-3 win over the San Diego Padres in front of 41,819 at Citi Field. Holmes started (four innings, two runs on three hits) and Manaea finished (five innings, one run on four hits). The offense provided a quick boost with five runs in the first.

“I thought it was great,” Holmes said after throwing a season-low 53 pitches. “We got a win. The bullpen didn’t have to pitch. So it was a good day. Offense showed up early and I mean really kind of took the pressure off of us. We just go out and throw and throw strikes and let the defense play and it was nice to just be able to cover the game between the both of us.”

Holmes, 32, is at 155 innings pitched. His previous career high was 70. He threw six innings or more in seven of his first 15 starts and lasted that long once in his last 15.

Manaea entered Tuesday in a horrific funk, allowing 28 earned runs in his last 32 2/3 innings pitched over seven starts (7.83 ERA).

“This game’s tough,” he said. “Big leagues and when you can persevere through things it feels really good. So tonight felt really, really good.”

Manager Carlos Mendoza saw a host of positives from Manaea.

“The aggressiveness, competing in the strike zone,” he said. “His ability to elevate the fastball. But I think there’s just conviction there with every pitch he makes. Expanding when he needs to. Getting ahead. Staying on the attack. There’s a lot to like there. So it was good to see him going out there and have that type of performance.”

Mendoza said Manaea would have entered in the fourth inning if Holmes failed to get Jackson Merrill out with a runner on second and two outs. Holmes struck Merrill out swinging and Manaea started the fifth inning.

The manager said the pair will share pitching duties again on Sunday against the Washington Nationals, but he hasn’t decided who will start the game. He may lean toward Manaea because the Nats typically have lefties CJ Abrams and James Wood at the top of the order.

“I think the bottom line is we all want to win,” Holmes said. “And whatever that takes at this point I think we’re willing to do whatever.”

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