Clay Holmes’ struggles again as Mets get swept by Padres

SAN DIEGO — If Clay Holmes is trying to become the Mets’ next bullpen addition, he sure appears on the right track.

The converted reliever was something of a success story for much of the season’s first half, but his results as a starter lately scream for the team to consider charting a different course — whether that be in a trade before Thursday’s deadline or giving a top prospect such as Nolan McLean or Brandon Sproat an opportunity.

Holmes on Wednesday turned in his shortest start of the season, failing to complete the fourth inning in a 5-0 loss at Petco Park that completed a three-game sweep by the Padres.

So much for the promise this West Coast trip held for the Mets after they swept the Giants three games over the weekend.

Holmes allowed four runs, two of which were unearned, on eight hits, two walks and two hit batters over 3 ²/₃ innings. He’s pitched to a 4.90 ERA in six July starts and hasn’t completed six innings in any of them.

On a day the Mets added to their bullpen by acquiring Tyler Rogers from the Giants for Blade Tidwell, Drew Gilbert and José Buttó, the right-hander Holmes — who arrived last offseason on a three-year contract worth $38 million — looked ready for a break from the rotation.

Adding to the day’s misery, the Mets managed only three hits in getting dominated by Yu Darvish and the Padres bullpen. Juan Soto did not play after leaving the previous night’s game with a left foot contusion from a foul ball.

Holmes got two quick outs in the second, but then proceeded to load the bases before Manny Machado stroked a two-run single to put the Mets in a 2-0 hole.

Holmes allowed a single to Martín Maldonado in the inning before drilling Fernando Tatis Jr. and walking Luis Arraez to load the bases.

Francisco Lindor’s throwing error led to the Padres adding two unearned runs in the third. Jose Iglesias reached on Lindor’s errant throw with two outs and Gavin Sheets followed with a two-run homer that extended the lead to 4-0.

Holmes allowed two additional singles in the inning, but with Reed Garrett warming up in the bullpen retired Arraez for the final out.

Holmes surrendered two-out single to Xander Bogaerts in the fourth and plunked Jake Cronenworth, ending his outing. Garrett entered and needed only two pitches to retire Iglesias for the final out.

Offensively, the Mets couldn’t accomplish much against Darvish. Mark Vientos singled in the first inning and that served as the team’s only base runner until Ronny Mauricio delivered a two-out single in the fifth.

Darvish struck out seven over seven shutout innings and allowed only two hits. The Mets scored only one run in the final two games of the series combined.

Rico Garcia allowed the final Padres run in the eighth, on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Merrill after Tatis had walked in the inning and Arraez singled.

It was the first run allowed by Garcia in his six appearances with the Mets.