New York Mets: Matz holds of rain and Phillies in win
By Joe Noa
The weather was ugly at City Field last night. It didn’t prevent New York Mets pitcher Steven Matz from throwing a dandy against NL East rivals Philadelphia.
Monday’s game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies was a total team effort as Mets beat the Phillies 5-1 behind exceptional pitching from Steven Matz at rain-soaked Citi-Field. This was a game Mets fans were very happy to see as the Mets put offense, defense, pitching and closing together to make this game enjoyable.
Generally, the Mets would have a good offensive day and their pitching breaks down, good pitching and the bullpen falters, and exceptional relief pitching only to see the bats go silent.
Steven Matz, after a previously disastrous outing against these same Phillies, came back and pitched beautifully with just one mistake in the top of the fourth inning giving up a home run to Rhys Hoskins. Matz struck out 6 and walked only two batters.
Todd Frazier returned to the New York Mets starting lineup at third base and got his first hit of the season, in his first at-bat. J.D. Davis was the odd man out as Jeff McNeil started at second base in place of Robinson Cano, who was given the night off after getting drilled in the hand yesterday in St. Louis.
Speaking of Jeff McNeil, He hit his first home run of the season in the fifth inning off of Jake Arrieta. The rain could not interfere with his line drive home run over the right-field wall.
The weather seemed to be messing with the Phillies bullpen as they plunked both McNeil and then Pete Alonso which forced in a run. It did not appear that it was intentional as the scenario did not dictate such an intention. Rainy weather can mess with a pitcher’s ability to grip a baseball and trying to pitch inside is even more difficult to maneuver.
But the rain had no effect on the Mets bullpen as Seth Lugo pitched the seventh, Jeurys Familia pitched the eighth, and Edwin “Sugar” Diaz deliciously closed the game out giving Matz (2-1) a much-needed victory. A well played and balanced game on all sides of the Mets made this game enjoyable to watch and if the bullpen can turn it around, there is no telling where the Mets can go.
Next. Forget the odds, down 3-1 Nets still fighting. dark
Side Note:
got ejected from the game in the fourth inning for complaining calling of balls and strikes, a rather expensive ejection. Don’t you think?