Matz and the New York Mets keep their cool Sunday, barely, overcoming three errors and escaping the NL East cellar after a one-day stay by beating the Miami Marlins 5-2.
The Mets, who endured their worst June ever, won for only the second time in the past 12 games to reach the season’s halfway point at 33-48.
”We’re all disappointed with where we’re at,” Matz said. ”We had higher expectations. We’re just going to keep pushing.”
Matz (4-5) did that in the series finale, when he pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed only an unearned run. It scored on his error, and he worked around misplays by two teammates – an encouraging sign from a pitcher still learning not to let setbacks snowball.
”You still see him get a little flustered out there,” manager Mickey Callaway said. ”But he regroups and makes the next pitch. Today he won the game for us because he did that, because they easily could have tacked on some runs there early. He held them right where he needed to hold them.”
New York’s bullpen leads the majors in losses but limited Miami to one hit in the final 3 2/3 innings. Jeurys Familia completed the four-hitter with a perfect ninth for his 15th save.
Asdrubal Cabrera hit his 14th homer off Dan Straily (3-4). Todd Frazier had two hits and scored three times, and Kevin Plawecki doubled home New York’s first run.
Straily allowed three runs in seven innings, matching his longest outing of the year. Cameron Maybin hit his first homer for the Marlins, but they slipped back into last place in the division.
”We just didn’t do a whole lot with Matz,” manager Don Mattingly said. ”That’s probably the best I’ve seen him.”
Matz loaded the bases with two out in the second by walking Straily, an .056 career hitter [url=http://www.authenticsclevelandbrowns.com]Browns Elite Jerseys[/url] , but then struck out Starlin Castro to escape.
Matz also reached behind his legs to snare Lewis Brinson’s grounder and retire him in the fourth. But the left-hander failed to come up with Straily’s safety squeeze bunt with two out in the inning, allowing Miguel Rojas to score from third.
”If I had taken my time I would have had him, but I rushed it,” Matz said.
MISCUES
Callaway talked before the game about how the Mets needed to play better defense, but they didn’t. Second baseman Cabrera and third baseman Frazier misplayed grounders for errors.
Miami misplays in the eighth led to the Mets’ final two runs. Center fielder Brinson failed to catch Frazier’s drive after a long sprint, and the play was ruled an RBI double.
”He probably should have caught that,” Mattingly said. ”I know they gave him a hit there, but if you ask him he gets to that ball and catches that pretty much all the time.”
Frazier then came home on a wild pickoff throw by catcher J.T. Realmuto.
UNEXPECTED CONTRIBUTION
Matz was 2 for 26 this year before he hit a two-out single in the fourth for his first RBI of the season.
”I was in a slump,” he said, ”but I’m out of it now.”
NIMMO SLUMP
The Mets’ Brandon Nimmo, hit by a pitch on his right hand a week ago, went 0 for 5 and is in a 1-for-19 slump.
”I’m super late. My bat speed is not there,” he said. ”But my hand feels fine.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: INF Dominic Smith, who had a cortisone shot for his sore right wrist, pinch-hit in the eighth and flied out. … OF Jay Bruce (hip) is expected to begin taking batting practice in the next few days.
UP NEXT
Mets: After an off day, RHP Zack Wheeler (2-6 [url=http://www.authenticsdallascowboys.com]Cowboys Elite Jerseys[/url] , 4.47) is scheduled to start Tuesday at Toronto.
Marlins: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (2-5, 6.14) is scheduled to start Monday against Tampa Bay to begin a three-game series.
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>Reyes Moronta (3-1) retired three batters for the win.
Hunter Renfroe homered for San Diego, which has dropped six of seven.
ASTROS 4, ROYALS 3, 12 INNINGS
HOUSTON (AP) – Carlos Correa hit a game-ending RBI single in the 12th, lifting the Astros over the Kansas City Royals.
George Springer led off the 12th with a walk, and Alex Bregman followed with a bloop single into shallow right field that fell between three players. An error by Ryan Goins allowed Springer to advance to third. After reigning AL MVP Jose Altuve was walked intentionally, Correa singled into right-center gap against Justin Grimm (1-3).
Collin McHugh (3-0) pitched a perfect inning for the win.
BLUE JAYS 4, ANGELS 1
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – Steve Pearce hit a three-run homer in the ninth and the Toronto Blue Jays ended a five-game road losing streak.
Pearce’s fourth homer was a line drive down the left-field line off Justin Anderson (1-2), who gave up a two-out single to Aledmys Diaz and walked Devon Travis to bring Pearce to the plate.
Seunghwan Oh (3-2) got the win despite giving up a solo home run to Luis Valbuena that tied it at 1 in the eighth. Ryan Tepera earned his sixth save, striking out Jose Fernandez to end the game.
Marcus Stroman threw five scoreless innings for the Blue Jays, who had lost 10 of their last 11 on the road. Stroman had not started since May 8 because of shoulder fatigue. Teoscar Hernandez gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead on his solo home run in the third.
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