Stanton And Marlins Rough Up Steven Matz As Mets Drop Third Straight, 10-3

The Miami Marlins were the first team to beat Mets’ rookie left hander Steven Matz in the regular season following a 10-3 victory over the Mets at Citi Field on Monday night.

Marlins Use 7 Run Second Inning To Drop Mets 10-3

Matz, 24, started six games for the Mets last season, going 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA.  Any thought of improving to 5-0 went out the window early as the Marlins exploded for a seven run second inning, capped by a Giancarlo Stanton that chased Matz from the game.

After allowing just one hit in the opening frame, Matz allowed the first three batters of the second to reach base before Adeiny Hechavarria singled home Martin Prado and Chris Johnson to open the scoring 2-0.

A few batters later, the speedy Dee Gordon hustled his way to an infield single to drive in Johnson.  After stealing second, Gordon came around to score on Christian Yelich’s single that came with two strikes to make the score 5-0.

Matz’ final batter was Giancarlo Stanton, and he cranked a 417 ft. home run to cap off the seven spot in the inning.  Matz finished with 59 pitches thrown in just 1 2/3 innings.  “I don’t golf, so that’s the closest I can come to doing it,” Stanton said. “Anything a pitcher’s going to give you, you’ve got to capitalize and make it hurt.”

Matz said that the nine days of rest since spring training weren’t an excuse for his performance.  “I felt good out of the gates. The second inning got away from me really quick,” he said. “I’ve been pitching since I was 8 years old, so (the layoff) is no excuse.”

Despite being handed an 8-0 lead after 3 innings, Marlins’ starter Jarred Cosart was not able to collect the win because he was pulled after 4 2/3 innings, failing to meet the required eligibility for a win, he threw 101 pitches.

He allowed 3 runs in the fourth on a Yoenis Cespedes single that drove in David Wright.  Cosart then threw a wild pitch a couple batters later that allowed Cespedes to score and Lucas Duda to advance to third, Duda came around to score on a fielder’s choice by Asdrubal Cabrera.

Cosart was removed in the fifth inning with two outs as manager Don Mattingly brought in left-handed reliever Chris Narveson to face Duda, who bats lefty.

“It’s all upset at myself,” Cosart said. “Obviously, I put myself in that position to get taken out there. … I didn’t execute some pitches when I needed to in that fourth inning, and that’s the reason I wasn’t able to get the win myself.”

The Mets only managed 7 hits, with Wright and Cespedes both having 2, while Duda, Cabrera, and Neil Walker accounted for the remaining three.

Curtis Granderson was 0-4, dragging his average down to .042, he has not had a hit since his last at bat of Opening Day against the Royals, meaning he is 0-20 in the last 5 games.

The teams will resume their series tonight at 7:10 PM EST.  The Mets (2-4) will send Noah Syndergaard (1-0, 0.00 ERA), aka Thor, to the mound in a pitching duel against Jose Fernandez (0-1, 7.94 ERA).  Syndergaard and Fernandez are considered two of the best young pitchers in the league and the matchup should be a treat for spectators.

PHOTO: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 11: Steven Matz #32 of the New York Mets pitches in the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on April 11, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Article by Nick Vigliotti