Clay Holmes struggles, offense stymied as Mets fall to Padres, 5-0

The lack of offense from Tuesday carried over as the Mets mustered just three hits in their 5-0 loss to the Padres in San Diego on Wednesday afternoon.

In the back-to-back losses, the Mets' offense has scored just one run and produced seven hits. On Wednesday, the Mets had just three hits, didn't walk and struck out nine times.

The Mets finish their six-game West Coast trip, 6-6.

Here are the takeaways…

–Clay Holmes constantly got into trouble in this one a few times. In the first, he allowed two hits and a walk to load the bases with two outs but got Jake Cronenworth to strike out to end the threat. He would have a similar situation in the second. A single, a HBP and a walk loaded the bases with two outs for Manny Machado, but the Mets starter couldn't get out of this jam, allowing a two-run single. Jackson Merrill hit a long liner as Holmes navigated the inning without further damage.

In the third, Holmes was set for his first 1-2-3 inning, but a throwing error by Francisco Lindor extended the inning for Gavin Sheets, who sent an 84 mph sweeper over the right center field wall for a two-run shot that went 427 feet. A couple of bloop singles prolonged the inning, but Holmes got Luis Arraez to ground out — thanks to a nifty snag by Ronny Mauricio at third — to end the frame. Holmes would get the first two batters out in the fourth, but a hit and another HBP forced Carlos Mendoza's hand, and he pulled his starter.

Reed Garrett closed the book on Holmes' day by finishing the inning as the former closer's downward trend as a starter continued. He tossed 79 pitches (50 strikes) across 3.2 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits, two walks and two HBP while striking out three batters.

-The Mets bullpen was very good. The combination of Garrett, Ryne Stanek, Brooks Raley and Rico Garcia got the final 13 outs while allowing just one run. Here's how it broke down:

• Garrett: 1.1 IP, 1 BB, 2 K
• Stanek, 1.0 IP, 1 K
• Raley: 1.0 IP, 1 BB
• Garcia: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

-The Mets lineup was missing Juan Soto after he suffered a contusion on his foot in Tuesday's game, and it showed. After a Mark Vientos single in the first inning, the Mets would not get another base knock off of Yu Darvish until a Mauricio single in the fifth after the Padres starter retired 13 in a row.

Darvish pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out seven.

Darvish entered Wednesday's game with a 5-1 record and a 3.23 ERA. That's in addition to his strong outing in Game 1 of the 2022 Wild Card series when he allowed just one run across seven innings.

–Brandon Nimmo would pick up a double in the ninth against the Padres bullpen and finished 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. The combination of Nimmo, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso went 1-for-11 with two strikeouts.

–Francisco Alvarez had to leave the game after he took a foul ball off the side of the head while catching. The young catcher finished 0-for-2 with two strikeouts.

Game MVP: Yu Darvish

The veteran right-hander continued his dominance of the Mets and helped complete the sweep.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets are off Thursday before they return to New York to host the Giants.

David Peterson (7-4, 2.83 ERA) will take the mound while the Giants have yet to announce a starter.

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