Final Score: Mets 3, Pirates 0—Matz-terpiece

It was a pitcher’s duel at Citi Field tonight. Trevor Williams was excellent. Steven Matz was even better. The first hit on either side came in the fourth inning on a Melky Cabrera ground rule double, but Matz got the next two outs quickly and kept his pitch count low all evening, which allowed him to pitch into the ninth inning for the first time in his career.

Meanwhile, the Mets did not record a hit until the fifth inning off Williams, when J.D. Davis smacked a two-out double. However, he did not score, as the Pirates opted to walk Rosario intentionally to get to Matz, who struck out. But the Mets finally scored the first run of the game in the next inning, when Michael Conforto blasted a no-doubter to the upper deck over the right field fence to give the Mets a 1-0 lead.

Matz protected that lead, continuing to shut the Pirates down, pumping strikes and getting ahead of hitters. He only had 78 pitches through seven innings. The Mets were able to give him some insurance in the bottom of that frame when Todd Frazier reached on an error by shortstop Jung Ho Kang and J.D. Davis followed with a two-run homer to center field to extend the Mets’ lead to 3-0.

With Edwin Diaz—apparently healthy—warming in the bullpen just in case, Matz strode to the mound for the ninth inning. After a leadoff hit by Kevin Newman, Matz retired the next three batters in quick succession, becoming the first Met to throw a complete game in under 100 pitches since Johan Santana in 2012.

Full recap to follow.

GameThread Roll Call

Nice job by Kepler; his effort in the GameThread embiggens us all.

1. Kepler: 104
2. MetsFan4Decades: 98
3. David Klein: 53
4. deegie: 51
5. Jets Mets Devils Nets 16: 50
6. JR and the Off-Balance Shots: 41
7. AnneInFlushing: 28
8. NateW: 26
9. Oak Beach Inn: 17
10. Knurk: 16