Tampa Bay’s 17-6 record since May 20 is the best in baseball, and the Rays showed a lot of the reasons why Saturday.

Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe, left, and Taylor Walls, right, react after Walls scored on a single hit by Josh Lowe during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Saturday, June 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) AP

There was a time where they might have made their debuts with the Mets. Instead, they're thriving for a different organization.

It mostly has been a charmed year for the New York Mets. Their stars generally have played like stars, and their starting pitching unexpectedly has been excellent, allowing them to compile the best record in the National League.

The Mets looked like they were well on their way to a seventh straight victory as Clay Holmes left the mound. For the third time in his last four starts, the right-hander had allowed just one run. He exited the game after five innings of work with his team up 5-1. Then disaster ensued.

NEW YORK - The Tampa Bay Rays scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning to spoil a solid outing from Clay Holmes and beat the New York Mets 7-5 at Citi Fie