New York Mets Amazin’ News, 6/17/17: Max Scherzer Dominates, Jay Bruce Continues Raking 2
Jun 16, 2017; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen (38) visits starting pitcher Steven Matz (32) during the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Max Scherzer dominates the New York Mets as Steven Matz struggles and Jay Bruce continues his all-out assault on the baseball.

Right when you thought things couldn’t get worse for the New York Mets, they dip to new lows.

Juan Lagares is the latest Met to find himself on the DL after suffering a broken thumb during Thursday night’s tilt against the Nationals.

Matt Harvey and Lagares were both placed on the 10-day DL Friday as the Mets called up utility infielder Matt Reynolds and centerfielder Brandon Nimmo from Triple-A Las Vegas.

After a nine-run outburst on Wednesday, New York has scored just five over their past two games. Five runs over two games may seem serviceable, but you can’t help but imagine how many more runs this team would have scored had they been healthy.

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On Friday night, Max Scherzer limited New York’s offense to one run over 8 innings, lowering his ERA to 2.26, and striking out 10. Scherzer has now recorded at least ten strikeouts over his last five games, a new career-best streak.

In his second start of the season, Steven Matz allowed four runs over seven innings, struck out four and let the long ball get the best of him.

Matt Wieters and Michael A. Taylor launched back-to-back solo shots off Matz in the top half of the third inning. After two scoreless frames, Anthony Rendon took Matz deep in the sixth for a two-run homer.

While his performance certainly doesn’t look elite on paper, limiting Washington’s offense to four runs over seven innings is certainly something to be proud of.

In the bottom of the 8th-inning, Jose Reyes smacked a solo home run off Scherzer to right field and brought some life to a quiet crowd at Citi Field.

However, Washington would score three runs in the next half-inning and took away any hope for a comeback.

In the ninth inning, Jay Bruce continued to do what he does best, hit home runs. Bruce took advantage of Washington’s struggling bullpen, smacking his 18th home run of the season to right field.

Bruce has been one of the MLB’s most consistent hitters this year and already has 47 RBIs after 66 games.