Mets beat Marlins, push NL wild-card race to final day of season

MIAMI (AP) — Pete Alonso homered and drilled an RBI double, Clay Holmes combined with three relievers on a one-hitter, and the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 5-0 on Saturday to push their playoff fate to the final day of the regular season.

The Mets (83-78) pulled a half-game ahead of Cincinnati (82-78) for the last National League wild card. The Reds were set to play at NL Central champion Milwaukee later Saturday.

Because the Reds hold the head-to-head tiebreaker, New York needs Cincinnati to lose at least one of its final two games against the Brewers to have a chance to reach the postseason.

Holmes (12-8) allowed one hit over six innings with three walks and a strikeout. Brooks Raley and Tyler Rogers each worked a perfect inning before Edwin Díaz got three outs to end it.

Alonso put the Mets ahead 1-0 with his NL-leading 41st double against Eury Pérez (7-6) in the first inning. The All-Star first baseman then doubled New York's lead with a solo shot to left-center in the third, his 38th home run of the season.

Alonso reached base a third time when he drew a leadoff walk in the sixth and scored on Jeff McNeil's double that made it 3-0.

Pérez struck out a career-high 11 batters while allowing three runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The Mets added two runs in the ninth on Francisco Lindor's RBI single and a wild pitch by reliever George Soriano that allowed Tyrone Taylor to score.

Xavier Edwards singled in the third for Miami's only hit.

Key moment

Trailing by two runs, the Marlins drew consecutive two-out walks in the fifth against Holmes, but he got Edwards to ground out to escape the threat.

Key stat

Holmes, a converted reliever, finished his first full season as a starter with a 3.53 ERA in 165 2/3 innings.

Up next

Miami RHP Edward Cabrera (7-7, 3.66 ERA) will pitch Sunday's regular-season finale against Mets LHP Sean Manaea (2-4, 5.80).

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AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB