Mets vs. Marlins Game 44 Recap

LHP Steven Matz (Credits to Newsday.com)

The New York Mets lost to the Miami Marlins 2-0 this afternoon for their fourth consecutive loss and dropped their record to 20-24. LHP Steven Matz made his first start since May 9th after he spent 10 days on the disabled list due to forearm nerve irritation. Matz gave up a lead-off homer to centerfielder Jon Berdi in the bottom of the first inning, but settled down after that in the inning and threw a scoreless bottom of the second inning. He ran into more trouble in the bottom of the third after he walked Berdi with one out and later gave up an RBI single to 3B Brian Anderson. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Matz gave up another lead-off hit on a single to struck out 1B Martin Prado and LF Harold Ramirez, but walked catcher Jorge Alfaro and gave up a single to Marlins starting pitcher RHP Pablo Lopez to load the bases. He was taken out after that with 81 pitches due to a limited workload after coming off an injury. His final line was two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks in 3.2 innings. RHP Tyler Bashlor came in and struck out Berdi with the based loaded and stayed in for the bottom of the fifth and threw a scoreless inning to bring his ERA down to 1.17 over 7.2 innings pitched. RHP Robert Gsellman came in next and threw two scoreless innings in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings which lowered his ERA to 2.63. RHP Jeurys Familia had a scoreless bottom of the eighth inning.

LF Jeff McNeil jumped on the first pitch of the game with a double, but that was the only hit the offense was able to muster all day. 3B Todd Frazier and McNeil drew walks, but other than that, no other hitters reached base. This has been a recurring theme all year with the offense and it's frustrating to see fine pitching performances get wasted with nothing to show for it.

The Mets next game is tomorrow afternoon against the Marlins at 1:10 p.m.