Acce s the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. ATLANTA The newest Mets starting pitcher may have provided a tutorial for many of his rotation mates. Fact: Its not a crime to pitch six innings or more. Clay Holmes Bert Campaneris Jersey on Saturday followed the example set by rookie Nolan McLean a night earlier and threw strikes, inducing early contact. The result was a second straight outing into the seventh inning for a Mets starting pitcher still not a world record, according to Guinne s, but noteworthy enough given the manner this season has proceeded for the teams rotation. In his longest start in almost three months, Holmes helped deliver a 9-2 victory over the Braves at Truist Park that gave the Mets a second straight win and fifth in their last seven games. Six homers carried the Mets offensive attack: Mark Vientos and Jeff McNeil each hit two, and Pete Alonso and Starling Marte delivered one apiece. Explore More Three of the Mets blasts were hit in the seventh inning to extend a one-run lead. The outburst gave the Mets 29 homers in their last 11 games. The Mets remained six games behind Philadelphia for first place in the NL East. They extended their lead to 2 games on Cincinnati for the NLs third and final wild-card berth. Holmes, who before McLeans seven-inning gem Friday, was the last Mets pitcher other than David Peterson to complete six frames in a start (that occurred June 7) started and finished strong on this night. Overall, he lasted 6 / innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Clay Holmes, who picked up his 11th win, pitched into the seventh inning of the Mets 9-2 blowout win over the Braves on Aug. 23, 2025. Getty Images You have one guy kind of do something and break through, and I think people can feed off that and the game is contagious, Holmes said. I dont know that its us trying to go out and do more. I think its that were in a spot where we can trust ourselves, and there is a healthy competition, and lets go out and be our best. Marte, in addition to going deep, helped spark the team on the bases and with his arm. The 36-year-old outfielder stole two bases and threw out a runner at the plate as the starting left fielder. CHECK OUT THE AND It feels good the way we have been playing the last two nights, Marte said through an interpreter. We have been taking a lot of pitches but also taking advantage of the pitchers mistakes. We are being aggre sive on the base paths and on pitches in the zone. McNeil, back in the lineup after a two-game absence with right shoulder discomfort, launched a three-run homer in the third inning that gave the Mets a 3-0 lead. Jeff McNeil hits a three-run homer, the first of his two long balls, in the third inning of the Mets blowout win over the Braves. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images McNeil smashed a first-pitch cutter from Cal Quantrill just inside the right field foul pole for his 11th homer this season. Martes arm saved a run in the bottom of the inning. Jurickson Profar hit a fly to medium left field, on which Nacho Alvarez Jr. tagged up at third base. Marte, starting in left with Brandon Nimmo sidelined by neck stiffne s, unleashed a perfect throw home to nail Alvarez for the final out. Its just a huge momentum boost, Holmes said. Mark Vientos hits a long ball, the second of his two homers, in the ninth inning of the Mets blowout win over the Braves. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Holmes walked Matt Olson and Ronald Acua Jr. to begin the fourth and both runners scored. Acua was safe at second the Braves won a replay challenge on Michael Harris IIs grounder to McNeil, loading the bases before Marcell Ozunas sacrifice fly brought in Atlantas first run. Drake Baldwins ensuing squib between the plate and pitchers mound (Holmes only play was to first base) scored Acua and sliced the Mets lead to 3-2. Hayden Senger tags out third baseman Nacho Alvarez Jr. after a strong throw by Starling Marte during the third inning of the Mets blowout win over the Braves. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Holmes received a boost in the sixth from Tyrone Taylor, whose full extension dive in center field robbed Harris of a hit for the final out in the inning. Alonso and Vientos homered in consecutive at-bats in the seventh, extending the Mets lead to 6-2. Then, after McNeil was retired, Marte hit the Mets third homer of the inning. Vientos went deep again in the ninth, giving him four homers in his last six games. McNeil followed with his second homer of the night. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! We have got a chance to sweep these guys [Sunday], manager Carlos Mendoza said. That is the mentality. Its good to come in here after a couple of tough lo ses [in Washington] to bounce back and play well. Scott Alexander Jersey