While the end results certainly weren’t as brutal as they were in his last start against the Nationals (just two-thirds of an inning, seven runs on eight hits), Steven Matz left a lot to be desired over the course of just three innings – the last of which called for 43 pitches – in the Mets’ 8-6 victory at the nation’s capital.

Matz put a lot of trust in his fastball, understandably given the incessant rain, but could only get by his first time through the order. Save for two singles and one walk across his first two innings, the lefty got off to a comfortable start, striking out a pair and winning some important at-bats with the help of a confident fastball and a handful of sharp breaking balls.

Trea Turner opened the first inning with a base hit and advanced after Bryce Harper drew a five-pitch walk, but Matz was able to buckle down and beat Anthony Rendon on three pitches (the last a curveball lofted to center for the second out) and Mark Reynolds on two (the second a slider popped up to short). By a similar process in the second, Matz cleared the mechanism after a one-out single and caught his next two hitters looking at pitches on the inside corner

As the third frame dawned, the forecast seemed relatively positive for both Matz and his pitch count (35 pitches, 24 strikes). Unfortunately for the Stony Brook native, he instead faced nine batters, the first of whom (Victor Robles) launched a middle-in changeup into the left field seats to wipe the Mets’ 1-0 lead. Shortly thereafter, Matz lost Turner with a fastball inside, allowed him to steal second, and watched him come across with the go-ahead run after Harper scorched a double to the opposite field.

Rendon got enough of Matz’s next slider, dumping it into center field to move Harper to third before Reynolds was hit by another missed slider – this one on the very first pitch. After the lefty managed a crisp strikeout of Adrian Sanchez, he immediately regressed to the mean, walking catcher Spencer Kieboom on a (very) high fastball to bring in yet another run.

All things considered, the start could have driven off a much higher cliff, and Matz’s ability to get the final two outs on six pitches (the last a beautiful changeup to get Michael Taylor swinging) was an impressive testament to his resilience. To actually limit the damage and bulldog his way through his longest inning of work all season with a fastball that sat two to three mph slower than usual – especially given the fact that both teams have no competitive incentive at this point – was a nice touch in an otherwise spotty, inconsistent start.

Matz will most likely get one more crack at things when the Mets come home for their last stretch of games, and in so doing will reach 30 starts in a season for the first time in his professional career.