Matz, Conforto lead Mets past Brewers
NEW YORK -- Steven Matz allowed three hits over seven strong innings Friday and Michael Conforto laced the go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning as the New York Mets beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 at Citi Field.
The Mets (23-18) won for only the second time in eight games. The Brewers (18-24) have alternated wins and losses in their last four contests.
Matz, who missed his last start with a sore forearm, gave up the two runs and walked none while striking out eight in winning his sixth straight start. He has a 1.35 ERA in that stretch, during which he has struck out 42 and walked six.
The night didn't get off to a promising start for Matz, who opened the game by by giving up a leadoff single to Jonathan Villar before allowing a two-out, two-run homer to Chris Carter. But he retired the next 15 batters and 18 of the final 19 he faced. Brewers third baseman Herman Perez singled with two outs in the sixth but was caught stealing.
Addison Reed threw a perfect eighth inning and Jeurys Familia earned his 14th save with a perfect ninth.
An RBI groundout by Rene Rivera pulled the Mets within 2-1 in the second, after which Brewers right-hander Wily Peralta began trading 1-2-3 innings with Matz. Peralta retired 10 straight before Asdrubal Cabrera ended the streak by delivering a single leading off the sixth. Conforto followed with his seventh homer of the season, an opposite field shot to left.
Conforto was the only player on either team with two hits. Neil Walker scored in the second for the Mets.
Peralta, who entered the game with a 7.30 ERA, allowed the three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six.
NOTES: Mets manager Terry Collins said RHP Matt Harvey, whose season-long struggles continued when he gave up a career-high nine runs in a career-low 2 2/3 innings against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night, would remain in the rotation for next week's series against the Nationals in Washington. ... Mets 3B David Wright got a scheduled day off as part of the maintenance for his spinal stenosis. ... The Brewers recalled OF Keon Broxton from Triple-A Colorado Springs and placed OF Domingo Santana (right shoulder strain) on the 15-day disabled list. ... Brewers LF Ryan Braun (back) missed his third straight game. ... A pair of Brewers who played for the Mets last season, OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis and RHP Carlos Torres, received their 2015 NL championship rings from Collins and Mets assistant general manager John Ricco.