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New York Mets Reaction: Steven Matz Finds Mojo After Dismal Start To Spring

By
Jeremy Fialkow
-

The New York Mets set their own Grapefruit League record, tying their fifth game, but at least Steven Matz found his mojo.

    • New York Mets 4 (7-13)
    • Washington Nationals 4 (17-4)
    • Grapefruit League, Final, Box Score
    • Tradition Field, Port St. Lucie,  FLA

By Jeremy Fialkow

Today’s game against the Washington Nationals featured some surprise issues intrigue, with two of the New York Mets top three prospects being featured in a lineup full of starters.

Those two prospects were lefty pitcher Steven Matz and 20-year-old shortstop prospect Amed Rosario, who’s said to be the shortstop of the future for the Mets.

The latter, Rosario, is a top 10 futures prospect in the MLB, and finished with two hits in four at-bats, which is promising.

Ace Alert:

Steven Matz has be flat-out awful thus far in spring training…he’s said so himself.

Luckily, he may have pulled himself out this disastrous rut, right in time for the start of the regular season.

He began his day with two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 first innings. After two, he was still perfect. It was until a Clint Robinson homerun with two outs in the fourth inning before SuperMatz allowed his first hit of the game.

Yeah, he leaves his disgusting curveball hanging from time to time, but everything else Matz was good news.

By the way, we always knew Matz could hit (See his debut game in the MLB, where he went 4-4 and multiple RBIs). Today, in his first AB of the game, he smashes a hard hit single through the hold on the right.

His final line today: 5.2 IP, 1 hit, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 Ks

Hot Bats:

Yeah, the Mets offense was churning today like a well oiled machine.

It all started in the first inning when David Wright absolutely clobbered a solo home run to opposite field, giving his team a 1-0 lead.

That’s now four consecutive games played for the Captain…which much be some kind of spinal stenosis record.

Later, after a Curtis Granderson leadoff double, Wright sent a shot up the middle to bring in yet another run.

His final line: 2-4, 2 RBIs, good for a spring batting average of .294.

More Hot Bats:

Neil Walker has arrived everybody! He followed up his 2-hit performance yesterday with a monster of a triple that was nailed toward the centerfield wall, staying only inches from sending him around the bases.

He finished 2-3 and raised his spring batting average to .211…a far-cry from the .170 it was yesterday!

Immediately after, sophomore sensation Michael Conforto took a baseball toward right field, nearly all the way out of the stadium to give the Mets a 3-0 lead

It’s safe to say the Mets were A) seeing the baseball well today and B) hitting every ball on the heart’s of their bats

Still Winless: 

Yes, not all is warmth and sunshine. In tying today’s game, the Mets did two incredible feats for the meaningless baseball that is the Grapefruit League.

Firstly, they tied their fifth game of spring action, extending their own record set yesterday.

Secondly, the Metropolitans have now made it nine straight games played without a win. Quite a streak of futility!

Thankfully, were now under a week away from real baseball action!

What’s next:

The Mets travel to another planet…I mean, Jupiter, FL to take on Ruben Tejada and the St. Louis Cardinals. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 pm ET. You can catch the game on MLB.TV

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Jeremy Fialkow
Jeremy Fialkow was born and raised in Miami, FLA, but currently studies at the University of Maryland. When he's not studying hard, he can be found supporting his sometimes hopeless NY teams: Knicks, Mets, Jets, and Isles. Your sympathy is appreciated.

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