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.

Holmes made his final Grapefruit League start Friday in the Mets’ 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Clover Park, looking every bit the part of a starter. The right-hander threw 5 1/3 innings (six ups), throwing 88 pitches, going twice through the order and then some. He allowed two hits, walked three and struck out eight.