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 to push their playoff fate to the final day of the regular season

New York Mets' Pete Alonso hits a solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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.

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New York Mets' Pete Alonso (20) celebrates with Francisco Lindor, left, after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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. The Mets had not yet announced a scheduled starter.

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

New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Eury Perez (39) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

New York Mets' Clay Holmes (35) walks from the mound during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)