|
 Matz emerged with his fifth consecutive win, and his RBI double
helped the Mets beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2.
With two outs and one on in the sixth inning with the Mets leading
3-2, Kevin Plawecki hit a grounder to second baseman Howie Kendrick,
who bobbled the ball and fell over, allowing Plawecki to reach
safely.
Kendrick's costly error set the table for Matz, who doubled to left
field to provide an insurance run.
Matz (5-1) went six innings win, giving up two runs on two hits,
striking out five and walking one. According to the Elias Sports
Bureau, he is the first pitcher in Mets history to win nine of his
first 10 major league decisions.
New York manager Terry Collins said Matz is benefitting from
improved fastball command and poise. The 24-year-old lefty is
figuring out how to adjust in each game he pitches.
"You go back to his first start where he really struggled, he didn't
really have command of his fastball, but he stayed with his
fastball," Collins said. "Now, you don't know what's coming. He'll
use his changeup, he'll throw his slider, he'll use his curveball.
 "Tonight, he didn't have his curveball working, and he had to try to
throw a few. That gets in a hitter's head, 'This guy has a breaking
ball that he'll throw.' And I just think that keeps everybody
off-balance."
Matz's offensive contribution came one day after Mets pitcher
Bartolo Colon hit a home run. All jokes aside, Collins said that
having pitchers who can swing the bat is a game-changer.
"When Matz came up with a runner at first base (in the fourth
inning), I thought with a left-handed pitcher, he might get a
fastball and put one in the gap or something, so I let him swing,"
Collins said. "That changes the way that you can play defense
against them, too. You can't come charging in."
The Dodgers' best chance to tie came in the eighth inning when they
put two runners on with one out. However, Jim Henderson struck out
Yasiel Puig, and Trayce Thompson popped out in foul territory.
Jeurys Familiar retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his
11th save, which ties him for first in the majors.
Left-hander Scott Kazmir (2-3) pitched 5 2/3 innings for the
Dodgers, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits, striking
out six and walking four. He was chased from the game after Matz's
double. It was the fourth time this season he failed to pitch six
full innings.
Kazmir got into trouble early when Curtis Granderson drove the first
pitch of the game into the right field stands. Plawecki made it 2-0
in the second inning with another solo home run.
"I thought Kaz was good, the stuff again was really good," Dodgers
manager Dave Roberts said. "It just seems every mistake he makes
goes out of the ballpark."
[to top of second column] |
The Mets pushed across one run in the third inning and had the bases
loaded with one out, but Dodgers left fielder Enrique Hernandez
doubled off Lucas Duda at second base for an inning-ending double
play.
The Dodgers got on the board in the fourth inning when Thompson's
line drive stayed fair and cleared the fence for a two-run home run.
That cut the Mets' lead to 3-2 and ended Matz's scoreless streak at
17 1/3 innings.
"I was looking for a fastball and I saw three in my first at-bat and
two in my second at-bat," Thompson said. "I'm always looking for a
fastball, but especially against these guys. All of their guys have
phenomenal stuff, and they could all be the ace of the staff."
A.J. Ellis kept the inning alive with a single up the middle, and
Charlie Culberson reached first on an infield single when New York
second baseman Wilmer Flores failed to field the ball cleanly, then
pulled Duda off the first base bag.
With runners on the corners, Kazmir struck out to end the inning and
end the threat.
The Dodgers lost for the ninth time in their past 13 games, and they
are 1-7 in their past eight at Dodger Stadium.
"I think guys are probably trying to do too much right now,"
Thompson said. "That's usually always the case. We just need to try
to keep it simple. We have some really established veterans in here
that have been through this before, so I think we'll be OK."
NOTES: The Dodgers optioned RHP Casey Fien to Triple-A Oklahoma
City. Fien was claimed off waivers from Minnesota on Saturday. ...
Dodgers starters have struck out six or more in each of the past
nine games. That ties the longest streak by the club since at least
1913. ... Mets RHP Bartolo Colon was named National League Co-Player
of the Week on Monday, after he went 2-0 and hit a homer last week.
... Mets C Travis D'Arnaud (rotator cuff sprain) received a
platelet-rich plasma injection Monday. ... New York OF Yoenis
Cespedes, who had three home runs in his previous four games, went
1-for-3 with a walk Monday. ... The Mets have outscored opponents
24-5 in the first inning this season.
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
