The Mets struggled in their game against the Nationals at Clover Park on Saturday, falling by a score of 5-0 (Box Score). Steven Matz got the start against Austin Voth.

Pitching

Matz had an excellent game of threes, lasting three innings, giving up just three hits, and striking out three. His outing lowered his spring ERA to 1.29.

Dellin Betances made his spring debut for the Mets in the fourth and struggled. He lasted just a 1/3 of an inning, giving up three runs (two earned) on one hit and two walks.

Rob Whalen would relieve Betances, finishing off the fourth and giving up just one hit.

Jeurys Familia would pitch in the fifth, struggling as well. He gave up one run on our hits, striking out two. In the sixth, Brad Brach threw a perfect inning, striking out two

Paul Sewald would replicate Brad Brach‘s sixth inning in the seventh, striking out two In the eighth, Daniel Zamora allowed a run on two hits, striking out three.

Chasen Shreve pitched the ninth and struck out one in a clean inning.

Offense

The offense was nearly nonexistent on Saturday, collecting only five hits and four walks

Brandon Nimmo started off the game with a leadoff double to center in the first, but Robinson Cano would line into a double play.

Michael Conforto would follow with a single to right, but Jake Marisnick would end the inning with a fly out to center.

The Mets would not collect another hit until the third when Nimmo would hit another double, this time to left field. Cano would then strike out to end the inning

In the fourth, Marisnick would work a walk, Eduardo Nunez would single, and Tomas Nido would walk, leaving the Mets with the bases loaded with two outs. Andres Gimenez, however, would leave them loaded by flying out to center

The Mets would not gather another hit until the sixth, where Braxton Lee would lead off with single to center.

The Mets would go down hitless in the final three innings, losing by a final of 5-0.

On Deck

On Sunday, the Mets will face Justin Verlander and the Astros in Port St. Lucie. The game will be at 1:10 p.m. and can be seen on WPIX.