It wasn’t the outing the Mets needed from their starting pitching, but it wasn’t entirely their fault.

Steven Matz got the start for the Mets and lasted just three innings, but with New York able to muster up just one hit, it didn’t matter much anyway.

After missing two starts with an issue in the radial nerve in his left elbow, Matz took the hill Saturday afternoon against the Marlins. In the first inning, the Long Island native gave up a home run to the first batter he faced. So far this season, the left-hander has a 12.00 ERA in the first inning over his seven starts.

Following the homer from Jon Berti, Matz got the next batter to ground out and recorded two strikeouts to end the inning. His most problematic inning was now over.

Matz trekked on with an easy second inning with a couple of line outs and his third strikeout of the game. The third inning gave him a little more trouble. The left-hander got the pitcher out on strikes then gave up a walk to Berti. After a fielder’s choice, Brian Anderson came to the plate, and singled to right to score Berti. However, Matz got Castro to pop out to end the inning.

Matz started off the bottom of the fourth by giving up a single and then struck out the next two. Matz looked fine until the runner at first stole second. After that he intentionally walked the next batter and the next thing you know, there were bases loaded with two outs and he hit the showers.

Ultimately, Matz only gave up two earned runs in 3.2 innings of work to the worst team in baseball. Fortunately for the Mets, he kept the team within striking distance throughout his short outing. Matz threw 81 pitches, struck out six batters, and walked two in his first start back from injury.

Manager Mickey Callaway mentioned before the game that Matz had a limit of 75-80 pitches for the day, so taking him out with bases loaded after 81 and Berti coming to the plate seemed like as logical a time as any to take him out.

Although Matz and the bullpen did their job and kept the opposition to two runs, the Mets just couldn’t hit the ball and Matz gets his third loss of the season.

Following the game Mickey spoke about Matz’s outing.

“I thought he threw the ball really well,” Callaway said.

He then continued to talk more specifically about Matz’s physicality.

“His command wasn’t off the charts great, but that is expected after a long lay off, but the stuff was there the health was there and if he had a bigger pitch count he probably pitch us deeper in the game”

During Matz’s post game interview he talked about his mindset going into the game,

“I felt really good. I’m happy with the way I felt going into the game there was nothing holding me back at all”.

Matz then mentioned that his problem pitch, his curveball, that was the focus of the nerve irritation “felt really great.”

His overall critique of his outing was that “it was okay.” He talked about how he hadn’t played in a while, so his focus was also on trying to figure out his adrenaline again.

Steven Matz ends today with a 3.96 ERA, a 5.11 FIP and a 1.20 WHIP. After his two week IL stint, Steven returns with a solid first outing back with a limited pitch count. Matz now has a 3-3 record for the year in seven starts. It would’ve been nice for the Mets to score some runs for Matz so he didn’t get his third loss of the year, but they couldn’t get it done.