Lefty Steven Matz Leads Mets to 6-0 Victory Over Indians

Lefty pitcher Steven Matz allowed three hits and struck out nine in seven innings and the New York Mets converted two sun balls into three runs in a 6-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon.

Lefty Steven Matz Leads Mets to 6-0 Victory Over Indians

The game went to 24-year-old Matz, who rebounded rather nicely from a disastrous start to the season. On April 11 against the Miami Marlins, he gave up seven runs on six hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings of a 10-3 loss.

Against the Indians, however, Matz masterfully switched between four different pitching styles (fastball, slider, change-up, curve). The fastball sat in the mid-90s and the slider in the high-80s. He allowed a total of three hits (two singles, one double) and walked two. Only two Indians managed runs after being down in the count. Yan Gomes took a strike, then a ball, before singling to center in the second; Francisco Lindor took a strike, then three balls, and eventually hit a 3-2 pitch to right-center for a double in the fourth.

The Mets (5-6), who now won the series 2-1, (their first series victory of the season) led 3-0 after one-half inning and Matz threw 62 of 94 pitches for strikes.

In the ninth, two different Mets relievers each struck out two Indians. Lefty Jerry Blevins struck out Jason Kipnis and Lindor swinging, but Lindor reached on a wild pitch. Righty Addison Reed struck out Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana swinging.

Matz’s counterpart, Corey Kluber, allowed six runs on nine hits in six innings. Kluber walked one and struck out eight.

The Indians are now 5-5. The Mets will next visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night, while the Indians will host the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.

CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 17: Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians hits a leadoff double as Kevin Plawecki #26 of the New York Mets looks on in the fourth inning at Progressive Field on April 17, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Mets defeated the Indians 6-0. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)