When you watch highlights of the Mets' 6-5 win in extra innings on Wednesday, you'll likely see Pete Alonso's three-run home run to tie the game in the eighth or Huascar Brazoban's dominant outing to pick up his first career save, but one that may be overlooked came from behind the plate.
Luis Torrens has been tasked with leading the Mets' pitching staff and providing defense/offense in the absence of Francisco Alvarez and he did that and then some. And he didn't even start the game.
Coming in as a pinch-hitter for rookie Hayden Senger, Torrens' impact came from his defense, especially in the eighth inning. After Alonso had tied the game, the Mets were in danger of falling behind again. Edwin Diaz allowed a leadoff single to Xavier Edwards who would steal second and advance to third base on a wild pitch. After a Kyle Stowers strikeout, Griffin Conine grounded to Brett Baty at second base. The young infielder, who is a third baseman by trade, was playing in and threw home but the toss was to Torrens' right side, away from home plate. It seemed like a layup for the speedy Edwards to slide in and recapture the lead for the Marlins, but the backstop caught Baty's throw and quickly swiped to his left and — after a Mets challenge — applied the tag in time.
Equally as impressive was two pitches later when Torrens caught Conine trying to steal second to end the frame, and set the Mets up for a win.
"Unbelievable play there on a ball that he has to reach and right away has to apply the tag," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game. "One of the biggest plays of the game. The caught stealing with Diaz there throwing from his knee, pretty impressive too. Credit to him and credit to the bullpen. But that play in particular, not an easy one."
THE CALL IS OVERTURNED!
Luis Torrens gets the tag down at home and the game stays tied! pic.twitter.com/TBJTD9QTO0
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 2, 2025
Hayden Senger's first start
With Alvarez out to start the season, Senger won the backup catcher job out of spring and he got his first real opportunity on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old made the most of his first start of his career, going 1-for-2 with a double at the plate, but the team was more impressed with how he handled starter Clay Holmes and the pitching staff.
"He did a really good job," Mendoza said. "On the same page with Clay, called a really good game, his ability to slow the game down when there was traffic early in the game and getting that double out of the way. Proud of him."
"He was great. Very calm and poised guy," Holmes said of Senger. "He’s a smart guy, there’s a lot of trust. I tossed to him a few times this spring. He’s got a fantastic arm. He seemed like himself, which is a hard thing to do as a catcher in his first start… he seems very calm, very present and there’s a lot of trust with him, the way he handles himself and prepares. It’s a lot of fun throwing to him."
Alvarez is not set to return until this month, at the earliest, but until then Senger will get his opportunities.
Clay Holmes limiting damage
Holmes' second start with the Mets went about as well as his first, but it could have — and probably should have — gone longer.
Although the right-hander went just 4.2 innings, it was a 29-pitch third inning that doomed any chance of him going five-plus innings. Mendoza said he went into the game wanting to be "aggressive" with how long Holmes would go but a couple of defensive mishaps extended the inning. The first was a sacrifice fly to Juan Soto who dropped the ball on the transfer, eliminating any chance at a play at the plate. And then a chopper to Mark Vientos at third base who threw home and airmailed the ball, allowing the second run to score.
Mendoza thought Holmes was good, despite that inning, especially in limiting the damage. The former Yankees closer answered that error from Vientos by striking out the next two batters to end the inning.
"Thought it was another good step for sure," Holmes said of his performance. "The sinker felt better than last time, the command of it was pretty good. Never got the changeup going. Felt it got better as the game went on…Had some things that fell [in the third inning] but was proud of just keeping them there with just two runs giving the team a chance there.
"Never want to give up runs but sometimes you have to limit damage."
Holmes finished allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out six across 4.2 innings. In his first start, he allowed two earned runs in 4.2 innings on five hits and four walks while striking out four.
Improvement from Holmes whose next scheduled start will likely come early next week.
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