Masterful performance by Matz lifts Mets past Padres
NEW YORK -- Steven Matz carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning Sunday afternoon and combined with two relievers on a four-hit performance as the New York Mets posted a 5-1 victory over the San Diego Padres at steamy Citi Field.
The Mets (59-58) won the final two outings of the three-game series - the first time they have won consecutive contests since July 6-7. Despite going 12-20 in between winning streaks, New York entered Sunday just 2 1/2 games behind the St Louis Cardinals in the race for the second wild card in the National League.
The Padres (50-66) have lost five of seven.
Matz (9-8) was pulled after giving up a one-out single to Alexei Ramirez in eighth. He walked two and struck out eight in earning just his second win in his last 14 starts.
Matz didn't look as if he'd flirt with history when he walked Travis Jankowski leading off the first and a balk moved the runner to second. Matz wriggled out of the jam thanks to a pair of strikeouts and catcher Rene Rivera, who threw out Jankowski trying to steal third.
The strikeouts began a stretch of 14 straight batters retired by Matz, whose ability to work fast and efficiently in the 96-degree heat enlivened the crowd of 26,612. Matz walked Derek Norris leading off the sixth, but escaped that inning with a pair of fielder's choice grounders and a strikeout.
Yangervis Solarte's flare to right field during a 1-2-3 seventh was the closest the Padres came to a hit until Ramirez, batting right-handed, pulled a single just down the first-base line to end Matz's hopes of throwing the second no-hitter in the 54-year history of the Mets.
Manager Terry Collins immediately pulled Matz, who threw a career-high 120 pitches in his previous start Tuesday. The crowd gave a standing ovation to Matz, who grew up on Long Island about an hour east of Citi Field.
Addison Reed allowed a two-out single to pinch-hitter Ryan Schimpf before striking out pinch-hitter Brett Wallace to end the inning. The Mets scored three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, as T.J. Rivera's two-run double capped an inning that began when Jose Reyes singled, stole second, took third on an error and raced home on a wild pitch.
Wilmer Flores and Neil Walker homered for the Mets.
Solarte had an RBI single in the ninth for the Padres.
Padres left-hander Clayton Richard (0-2), who was making his first major league start since 2014, took the loss after giving up two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings.
NOTES: Mets SS Asdrubal Cabrera (strained left patella tendon) is expected to begin a rehab assignment this week and could return to the majors during the four-game series against the San Francisco Giants. That series begins Thursday. ... RHP Gabriel Ynoa, who threw a perfect 11th inning on Saturday, is the first Mets' reliever to win his major-league debut since Kenny Greer on Sept. 29, 1993. ... Padres RHP Tyson Ross (shoulder, ankle) tossed 46 pitches in the bullpen Saturday and is expected to throw batting practice before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. ... Padres manager Andy Green said RHP Colin Rea (right elbow) will visit Dr. James Andrews this week to determine when he'll undergo Tommy John surgery.