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MIAMI — In need of a hero, the Mets found an unlikely one in Clay Holmes on Saturday.
Holmes, who had lasted six innings in a start only once since June 7, was taking the mound after getting thrust into a relief appearance three days earlier. The Mets were, and remain, desperate.
The veteran right-hander delivered a gem, ensuring the regular season finale will carry meaning for the Mets on Sunday.
Holmes pitched six scoreless innings, and the bullpen handled the rest in a 5-0 victory over the Marlins at loanDepot park.
The Mets (83-78) began the day tied with Cincinnati for the NL’s third and final wild-card spot, but the Reds own the tiebreaker.
The Reds played a later game on Saturday in Milwaukee.
Holmes followed in the tradition of John Maine and Johan Santana, who had excellent pitching performances against the Marlins in Game 161 — in 2007 and ’08, respectively — to help keep postseason hope alive.
But in both instances, the Mets lost the following day to miss the playoffs.
Holmes allowed only one hit with three walks and two strikeouts, departing after 78 pitches with the Mets ahead by three runs.
Brooks Raley, Tyler Rogers and Edwin Diaz combined for the final nine outs.
Pete Alonso’s double in the first brought in the game’s first run.
Francisco Lindor walked leading off and reached second on a wild pitch before Alonso delivered.
Brandon Nimmo’s ensuing single put runners on the corners before Nimmo stole second, but Starling Marte and Jeff McNeil were retired to end the threat.
Alonso homered with two outs in the third to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.
The blast was Alonso’s 38th this season and gave him 126 RBIs.
He cleared the fence in left-center on a full-count, 101-mph fastball from Eury Perez.
Holmes retired the first eight batters he faced before walking Heriberto Hernandez in the third and surrendering a single to Xavier Edwards.
But the right-hander rebounded to retire Jakob Marsee before retiring the side in order in the fourth.
After getting two quick outs in the fifth, Holmes walked Graham Pauley and Hernandez in succession before retiring Edwards on a groundout to preserve the Mets’ two-run lead.
Jeff McNeil lined a two-out double in the sixth that gave the Mets a 3-0 lead.
Alonso walked to reach base for the third time and reached second on a balk before McNeil gave the Mets their second big two-out hit of the game.
Lindor added to the lead with an RBI single in the ninth after Francisco Alvarez and Tyrone Taylor had singled.
The Mets extended the lead to 5-0 on George Soriano’s wild pitch that allowed Taylor to score.
