PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mets right-hander Clay Holmes reached another milestone in his transition from reliever to starter on Friday. In the Mets' 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Clover Park, he pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings. That’s six ups, the most he’s had all spring training, and 88 pitches.

When the Mets signed Clay Holmes to a three-year, $38 million contract during the offseason it was with the idea that he could potentially translate from a reliever into a starting pitcher and that plan has paid off immensely so far for New York.

A new report claims that the New York Mets decision to sign former New York Yankees closer Clay Holmes and make him a starter annoyed some MLB executives. But it is also part of why team president David Stearns is so highly respected and feared around the game.