New York surged to a 5-0 win over Miami as Clay Holmes delivered a career-best six scoreless innings to anchor a critical victory in Game 161. Pete Alonso supplied offense with a homer, a double and two RBIs, lifting the Mets to a half-game edge over the Reds for the NL's final wild-card spot with one day remaining. Holmes, who had not started in 11 days, used a side-to-side mound approach to keep Marlins hitters off-balance and finished strong on 78 pitches.

The performance capped a season where Holmes converted from reliever to starter, delivering a 12-8 mark with a 3.53 ERA over a career-high 165 2/3 innings. New York now faces a decisive Sunday with Milwaukee and Cincinnati looming, hoping for help from the Brewers to clinch a playoff berth while avoiding the historical peril of late-season collapses. Alonso’s timely power adds urgency to a final-day plan that hinges on external outcomes.