MIAMI -- Even at their worst, the Mets have owned Game 161.

In 2007, a day before the Mets completed one of the worst collapses in Major League history, John Maine held the Marlins scoreless on one hit into the eighth inning of a blowout win that (temporarily) saved their season. One year later, Johan Santana fired a three-hit shutout on an injured knee to do the same. In both instances, the Mets lost the next day to crash out of the playoff race.

Time will tell if this year ends up similar or different. All Clay Holmes could do on Saturday was give the Mets a chance, which he did with his best outing of the season in his final regular-season start. Needing a victory to keep New York’s most realistic playoff hopes alive, Holmes held the Marlins to one hit over six shutout innings in a

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