PHOENIX — About the only Force with the Mets on Saturday was the one they got the Diamondbacks to ground into in the sixth inning.
On Star Wars Night at Chase Field, manager Carlos Mendoza’s crew honored a main character from the movie by producing a “Solo” run in their 2-1 loss.
The Mets still have a shot at a third straight series victory on Sunday, when they complete this nine-game road trip, but their offensive shortcomings have mostly been an obstacle to assembling a significant winning streak.
A day after totaling only two hits over nine innings before getting three in the 10th to rally for a victory, the Mets were again challenged to put runners on base: They managed only three hits and the final 13 batters they sent to the plate were retired.
Merrill Kelly was the chief protagonist, limiting the Mets to one earned run on three hits and three walks with six strikeouts over seven innings. The Mets had 11 hard-hit balls against Kelly, with little to show for it.
“[Kelly] threw strikes and he moved the ball,” Mendoza said. “He gave us pitches to hit, and even though we hit some balls hard toward the middle of the field, we still missed some good pitches to hit.”
Clay Holmes had one ragged inning, but overall gave the Mets a respectable performance. The right-hander allowed two earned runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts over 5 ²/₃ innings and retired 10 straight batters before the final hitter he faced, Nolan Arenado, singled. Holmes’ 103 pitches were a season high.
It was Holmes’ eighth straight start to begin the season in which he allowed two earned runs or fewer. But he fell an out short of completing a fourth straight start of at least six innings. Holmes’ ERA crept from 1.69 to 1.86.
“I have just been able to limit the damage, that is what I do with my repertoire,” Holmes said. “When I am in the zone and don’t give free passes, I set myself up for success.”
Brett Baty stroked an RBI double in the second against Kelly that gave the Mets a 1-0 lead. Marcus Semien singled with two outs before Baty delivered for his 13th RBI this season. But Kelly retired Francisco Alvarez, leaving Baty in scoring position.
Holmes recorded two quick outs in the fourth, but loaded the bases on a walk to Adrian Del Castillo after Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo singled. Ildemaro Vargas grounded a single to left field that gave the D’backs a 2-1 lead. Holmes retired Arenado, leaving two runners stranded.
“They were able to scratch a couple across there, but I felt like I could hold them there and I was just trying to work as deep as I can after that and keep it there, too,” Holmes said.
Tyrone Taylor doubled with two outs in the fifth and Juan Soto was intentionally walked before Kelly retired Bo Bichette to conclude the threat. The Mets didn’t get another base runner.
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Holmes couldn’t finish off Arenado in the sixth and surrendered a single before Austin Warren got the final out, with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hitting into a fielder’s choice.
Ketel Marte doubled off Soto’s outstretched glove with two outs in the seventh before Warren retired Carroll.
Craig Kimbrel, who got torched for a grand slam in his previous appearance Thursday in Colorado, walked Perdomo and Del Castillo to begin the bottom of the eighth before getting two outs and striking out Gurriel.
Paul Sewald handled his former team in the ninth by striking out MJ Melendez before getting Mark Vientos on a fly to deep center. Carson Benge struck out to end it.
Mendoza was asked if he thought Vientos’ shot to center (which left the bat at 101.2 mph) was a game-tying homer.
“I thought so,” Mendoza said. “A lot of people in the dugout thought that ball was going to be at least off the wall. It just didn’t go anywhere.”
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