While the New York Mets’ bullpen imploded and blew a two-run lead in Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to Philadelphia, Steven Matz put on a baseball exhibition akin to the NFL’s Punt, Pass, and Kick competition.

Before being pulled for a pinch-hitter in the top of the sixth after throwing just 91 pitches, Matz battled through baserunners, blasted another home run, and made an absolutely spectacular play in the field.

Mets skipper Mickey Callaway spoke glowingly of Matz to Tim Healey of Newsday after the game.

“He’s a great athlete, strong kid — he kind of put it on display tonight. He’s just a good baseball player I guess. Pretty impressive.”

Matz worked around three walks (Cesar Hernandez, who stole second base; Carlos Santana; Aaron Altherr) in the first inning, retiring J.P. Crawford on a routine groundout to third to leave two men in scoring position.

Jorge Alfaro lined a one-out single in the second, stole second base, and Hernandez walked again to bring up Phils’ slugger Rhys Hoskins. Hoskins saw just one fastball in his at-bat, a third-pitch 94 MPH sinker for a ball, before hacking at the curve Matz offered, sending it to Michael Conforto in left to end the frame.

In the third, Steven Matz became the first Mets pitcher since Ron Darling in 1989 to hit a home run in consecutive outings, and third in team history (Tom Seaver, 1972) with his solo shot to left field off of Aaron Nola, putting the Mets ahead 1-0.

After the game, Matz mentioned to reporters that he told fellow Mets hurler Jacob deGrom, who is battling to secure the NL Cy Young Award over Nola and Max Scherzer of the Nats, “that was for my friend.” Pitchers who can rake. Gotta love that.

Matz gave up a one-out single to Santana in the bottom half of the frame, but recovered nicely to get Altherr to line out, and struck out Crawford swinging at a looping 78 MPH curve in the dirt.

The Long Island native put together his first 1-2-3 inning of the night in the fourth, with some extra cushion thanks to Dominic Smith‘s RBI double in the top half of the inning, setting down Scott Kingery on strikes, then retiring Alfaro and Nola.

Matz issued another walk in the fifth, this time to Hoskins, but took matters into his own hands, er, glove, to escape the frame unharmed. With Hoskins on first base, Roman Quinn smoked a comebacker that looked as if it was going to blow right past Matz.

Clearly, and luckily, Steven Matz has reflexes like a jungle cat. His backhand stab at Quinn’s missile was perfectly timed, making the catch look somewhat routine, then Matz tossed it over to first to complete the inning-ending double play.

At only 91 pitches, Matz was removed for a pinch-hitter in the top of the sixth, finishing his night with five innings pitched, allowing just two hits and lowered his ERA to 4.03 on the season.

On August 16, Matz had a 4.60 ERA. Since then, the 27-year-0ld lefty has a 2.31 ERA over his last six starts, with 39 strikeouts and 12 walks.

Strong finishes appear to be a hallmark of this team. Let’s hope this behavior continues to spread throughout the Mets as they close out their semi-charmed 2018 season.