Holmes throws five no-hit innings, fans nine

Holmes threw 64 pitches, 41 of which went for strikes. He went up 0-1 on 11 of 16 hitters, got 18 whiffs and had a dominant slider against a Pirates lineup that featured several regulars, including old friend Marcell Ozuna.

Ozuna’s fly out to right in the first inning was the second-hardest hit ball (97.4 mph) of the night against Holmes. Holmes got Ozuna to chase a slider and strike out in the fourth.

“Slider was working. I was filling up the zone. Most importantly, was getting ahead of guys,” Holmes said. “With how the past couple outings have went, just getting ahead of guys and finishing them with the slider (was the focus). I feel like I did that today.”

Holmes’ start was his fourth in Grapefruit League action. He has yet to allow a run this spring and has fanned 16. Eight of his strikeouts Thursday came on the slider, which he offered 26 times at an average of 84 mph.

Jared Triolo and Bryan Reynolds (being celebrated Thursday with a bobblehead night in his honor) both went down swinging twice at Holmes’ punch-out pitch.

Holmes’ start Thursday was his longest and most complete of spring training. And even though it looked like Holmes was in midseason form, there is never a shortage of things to tinker with ahead of the end of camp, he said.

“I’m always trying to get better in some way or form,” Holmes added. “I’ll take that outing and roll with it. That’s a good one to build on.”