New York Mets rookie southpaw, Steven Matz struggled in the team’s 5-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Sunday’s matinee series finale. For the second consecutive start, Matz has struggled after cruising through April and May.
Sunday’s loss saw Matz throw six innings while allowing five runs, four of which were earned. He allowed nine hits on the day, while striking out five and walking none. Matz took his second consecutive loss as his record fell to 7-3 on the season and his ERA has risen to 2.71.
“The biggest thing was I wasn’t making a pitch when I had to, it happens,” Matz said. (NY Post)
Matz, 25, did not get much help from his defense as they accumulated three errors in the game. Matz had an error himself in the game, throwing a ball away while attempting to get an out at first base on a suicide squeeze by the Brewers. Acting manager on the day, Dick Scott who took over for Terry Collins due to illness believed Matz battled well to keep his team in the game.
“He competed [Sunday], he didn’t have a lot of help behind him at times, but he competes well, he got us through six innings,” Scott said. “We’re a little tight in the bullpen and all of our guys, they all compete, so they all give us a chance to win. He didn’t have his best stuff, but I thought he gave us a chance to win.”
Over his last two starts, Matz has pitched 11 innings while allowing nine runs. In that same time he has also been quite hittable, giving up 17 hits. There was no more dominant starter in the Mets rotation in April and May than Matz, the team will need to see their southpaw take a step in the right direction and get back on track in his next start. This rotation has been looked to carry a team whose offense has been anemic and every mistake hurts just a bit more as at times every lead has seemed insurmountable.
