It was not to be, as Alexei Ramirez whizzed a single down the first-base line with one out in the eighth to break up Matz’s no-hit bid in the Mets’ 5-1 victory against the overmatched Padres.
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Although it isn’t certain that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between the 134-pitch outing and the hastened end of Santana’s career, many in the Mets organization lament the aftermath of the no-hitter, and the organization’s attitude about them is different.
“We’ve lost so many tough games, so many close games”, Mets manager Terry Collins said.
The Mets added three insurance runs in the eighth, when Jose Reyes scored on a wild pitch and rookie T.J. Rivera – another NY product playing for his hometown team – hit a two-run double for his first career RBIs. First base umpire Carlos Torres jumped out of the way of the hard-hit ball before pointing toward second base. “He absolutely had no-hit stuff today”. You could tell that early in the game. “He’ll have another shot at it”.
“I looked at the video of that and it was a better pitch than I thought it was”.
Matz, who had walked in the fifth inning, came to bat with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to a standing ovation.
“It really wasn’t on my mind. He just got to it”, deGrom said. The team, which has struggled mightily as of late, won back to back games for the first time since July 3-4. Wilmer Flores and Neil Walker both hit solo home-runs for the Mets. He walked two and struck out eight in earning just his second win in his last 14 starts. He fanned All-Star slugger Wil Myers all three times. He replied: “Had he got through the eighth inning, I was going to let him start the ninth, depending on what the eighth inning looked like”. “But I’m excited to get out there and help contribute”. The home run started that energy to get back in the game, and it was a good sign for the Mets catcher who had three hits. “He was cruising pretty good in the fifth and I just glanced at the pitch count because of the last start, nothing more than that …” Recent call-up T.J. Rivera drove in the other two with a double for his first two career RBIs.
“We feel like the turning around is on its way”, Walker said.
Steven Matz flirted with throwing the second no-hitter in New York Mets history on Sunday.
Addison Reed and Gabriel Ynoa finished the four-hitter.
A switch-hitter, Walker has connected for seven of his 21 home runs off left-handers this year.
The lefty’s day was done after 7 1/3 innings and the lone hit.
Padres: CF Jon Jay (broken right forearm) is scheduled to have another CT scan Monday in California and the team hopes he will be cleared to begin swinging a bat.
“The hole was too deep, but i will tell you I was very impressed”, Collins said.
Staying healthy has been especially challenging for Matz, who missed two seasons after Tommy John surgery in 2010 and missed time during his excellent rookie season in 2015 because of a lat injury. “I’m not going to sacrifice this kid’s next year for one more inning. especially when you know he’s getting exhausted and that’s when injures are going to occur, when you start to get worn out”.
Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (7-5, 2.35) goes for his fourth straight quality start Saturday night. Perdomo will be on the mound against Drew Smyly.
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As the attention was focused more across town with the Yankees’ finale for Alex Rodriguez, there seemed to be some more life with this Mets team that dropped to a game below.500, 57-58 for the first time since April 17th.
