Steven Matz Shaky But Brandon Nimmo Grand As 51s Take 2-1 Series Edge Over Reno

Las Vegas 51s @ Reno Aces

June 3, 2017

Steven Matz @ Eric Jokisch

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Las Vegas	2	0	2	4	1	0	0	0	0		9	8	0
Reno	0	0	2	0	3	0	0	0	0		5	12	2

W: Taylor (1-0, 2.89 ERA); L: Jokisch (3-3, 7.43 ERA)

Boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Steven Matz (6.75 ERA) – 4.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R (4 ER), 2 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 17 TB, 5 K (4 K/Sw), 1 GIDP, 4 GB: 6 FB: 4 LD: 1 PU, 90 Pitches (61 Strikes), 12 Swinging, 12 Called, 13.3% SwStr, 24.5% Whiff/Swing, 20.8 Pitches/IP, 20 BF

Logan Taylor (2.89 ERA) – 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 TB, 1 BB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 1 FB: 3 LD, 32 Pitches (19 Strikes), 6 Swinging, 2 Called, 18.8% SwStr, 35.3% Whiff/Swing, 19.2 Pitches/IP, 7 BF

Erik Goeddel (7.66 ERA) – 1 IP, 2 GB: 1 LD, 10 Pitches (7 Strikes), 3 Called, 10 Pitches/IP, 3 BF

Hansel Robles (10.38 ERA) – 2 IP, 2 H, 1 2B, 3 TB, 1 BB, 3 K (3 K/Sw), 3 GB: 1 FB: 1 LD, 37 Pitches (22 Strikes), 4 Swinging, 7 Called, 10.8% SwStr, 26.7% Whiff/Swing, 18.5 Pitches/IP, 9 BF

Batters

RF - Brandon Nimmo - 2-4, 3 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 5 Pitches/PA

SS - Amed Rosario - 1-5, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 2 K, 17.6% SwStr, 37.5% Whiff/Swing, 3.4 Pitches/PA

1B - Dominic Smith - 0-5, 1 RBI, 2 K, 12.5% SwStr, 27.3% Whiff/Swing, 4.8 Pitches/PA

C - Kevin Plawecki - 0-4, 1 BB, 5.9% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 3.4 Pitches/PA

LF - Travis Taijeron - 1-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 6.7% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 3.75 Pitches/PA

3B - Josh Rodriguez - 1-4, 1 K, 7.1% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 3.5 Pitches/PA

CF - Desmond Jennings - 1-4, 1 R, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 11.1% SwStr, 28.6% Whiff/Swing, 4.5 Pitches/PA

2B - Gavin Cecchini - 2-4, 1 R, 2 K, 6.2% SwStr, 14.3% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

SP – Steven Matz - 0-2, 1 R, 1 SAC, 1.67 Pitches/PA

PH – Victor Cruzado - 0-1, 1 K, 33.3% SwStr, 100% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            Steven Matz made his third rehab start since re-joining the Las Vegas 51s Saturday night (fourth overall), and while he wasn’t as bad as his first start (in Round Rock), he wasn’t nearly as sharp as his second start (five perfect innings at home against El Paso). Fortunately for the 51s, the offense stayed hot with a nine run explosion, jumping ahead 4-2 over the first three innings and then doubling their score with a grand slam from Brandon Nimmo – figures the PCL would have a grand slam on the day major league baseball set a record for grand slams in a day.

Matz Perfect In His Rehab, Nimmo And Smith Collect Four Hits Apiece

El Paso Chihuahuas @ Las Vegas 51s

May 28, 2017

Kyle Lloyd @ Steven Matz

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
El Paso	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0	0		5	6	1
Las Vegas	1	0	1	0	0	3	0	2	X		7	15	1

W: Bradford (1-0, 3.86 ERA); L: Fisher (0-3, 8.41 ERA); Save: Robles (1)

Boxscore

Nice Matz day in Vegas

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Steven Matz (5.00 ERA) – 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 8 K (6 K/Sw), 3 GB: 4 LD, 73 Pitches (50 Strikes), 9 Swinging, 13 Called, 12.3% SwStr, 24.3% Whiff/Swing, 14.6 Pitches/IP, 15 BF

Alberto Baldonado (H, 3, 10.80 ERA) – 0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 2B, 4 TB, 1 BB, 2 GB: 2 LD, 17 Pitches (10 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 2 Called, 17.6% SwStr, 37.5% Whiff/Swing, 51 Pitches/IP, 5 BF

Erik Goeddel (BS, 2, 8.02 ERA) – 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 HR, 4 TB, 1 BB, 4 GB: 3 FB, 26 Pitches (17 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 4 Called, 3.8% SwStr, 7.7% Whiff/Swing, 15.6 Pitches/IP, 8 BF

Chase Bradford (W, 1-0, 3.86 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 1 FB: 1 PU, 18 Pitches (12 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 2 Called, 11.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 18 Pitches/IP, 4 BF

Hansel Robles (S, 1, 0.00 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 2 BB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 2 FB, 20 Pitches (10 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 4 Called, 5% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 20 Pitches/IP, 6 BF

Batters

CF - Brandon Nimmo - 4-5, 2 R, 3 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K, 9.1% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 4.4 Pitches/PA

SS - Amed Rosario - 1-5, 1 RBI, 14.3% SwStr, 22.2% Whiff/Swing, 2.8 Pitches/PA

1B - Dominic Smith - 4-5, 3 RBI, 11.1% SwStr, 18.2% Whiff/Swing, 3.6 Pitches/PA

RF – Travis Taijeron - 0-3, 2.67 Pitches/PA

PH – Victor Cruzado - 0-1, 2 Pitches/PA

PH – Desmond Jennings - 0-1, 1 K, 60% SwStr, 100% Whiff/Swing, 5 Pitches/PA

C - Kevin Plawecki - 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 11.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 2.25 Pitches/PA

LF/RF – Josh Rodriguez - 1-3, 1 BB, 12.5% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

2B - Gavin Cecchini - 1-4, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 9.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 2.75 Pitches/PA

3B - Phillip Evans - 3-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 16.7% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

SP – Steven Matz - 0-2, 33.3% SwStr, 42.9% Whiff/Swing, 4.5 Pitches/PA

LF (Double-switch) – Jayce Boyd - 0-1, 2 R, 1 BB, 14.3% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 3.5 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            The Las Vegas 51s finally snapped their losing streak Sunday afternoon before it could reach nine games, all it took was five perfect rehab innings from Mets starter Steven Matz  to get it done. Matz was night-and-day different from his first rehab start with Las Vegas (GIF’s within, not below), when he struggled with command and Russ Langer was calling most of his pitches upper-80’s.

Steven Matz Struggles In Rehab Outing, 51s Blown Out In Round Rock

Las Vegas 51s @ Round Rock Express

May 23, 2017

Steven Matz @ Tyson Ross

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Las Vegas	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2		3	6	0
Round Rock	0	2	2	1	6	1	2	0	X		14	18	1

W: Ross (1-0, 0.00 ERA); L: Matz (0-1, 11.25 ERA); Save: Wagner (1)

Boxscore

Pitching coach Frank Viola talks to Steven Matz, Amed Rosario, and Travis d'Arnaud mid-inning

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Steven Matz (L, 0-1, 11.25 ERA) – 4 IP, 5 H, 5 R (5 ER), 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 14 TB, 2 BB, 4 K (1 K/Sw), 5 GB: 3 FB: 4 LD, 78 Pitches (49 Strikes), 7 Swinging, 16 Called, 9% SwStr, 21.2% Whiff/Swing, 19.5 Pitches/IP, 18 BF

Kevin McGowan (5.33 ERA) – 0.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R (5 ER), 1 2B, 2 HR, 14 TB, 1 BB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 2 FB: 4 LD: 1 PU, 41 Pitches (26 Strikes), 10 Swinging, 2 Called, 24.4% SwStr, 41.7% Whiff/Swing, 61.5 Pitches/IP, 10 BF

David Roseboom (8.31 ERA) – 0.1 IP, 1 GB, 3 Pitches (1 Strikes), 9 Pitches/IP, 1 BF

Erik Goeddel (8.68 ERA) – 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 TB, 2 K (1 K/Sw), 2 GB: 1 FB: 1 LD, 23 Pitches (13 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 6 Called, 4.3% SwStr, 14.3% Whiff/Swing, 23 Pitches/IP, 6 BF

Chase Bradford (4.22 ERA) – 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 3B, 1 HR, 8 TB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 2 FB: 2 LD, 20 Pitches (14 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 1 Called, 15% SwStr, 23.1% Whiff/Swing, 20 Pitches/IP, 6 BF

Jeff Glenn (0.00 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 GIDP, 2 GB, 11 Pitches (5 Strikes), 1 Called, 11 Pitches/IP, 3 BF

Batters

CF - Brandon Nimmo - 0-4, 1 K, 14.3% SwStr, 22.2% Whiff/Swing, 3.5 Pitches/PA

C - Travis d'Arnaud - 0-4, 1 K, 18.8% SwStr, 30% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

SS - Amed Rosario - 2-4, 1 R, 1 SB, 4.75 Pitches/PA

1B - Dominic Smith - 1-4, 1 K, 6.7% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 3.75 Pitches/PA

RF - Travis Taijeron - 2-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 HBP, 1 K, 12.5% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

DH - Desmond Jennings - 0-4, 2 K, 11.8% SwStr, 18.2% Whiff/Swing, 4.25 Pitches/PA

2B - Gavin Cecchini - 0-4, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 3.25 Pitches/PA

3B - Phillip Evans - 0-2, 1 BB, 3 Pitches/PA

LF - Victor Cruzado - 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 GIDP, 4 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            Steven Matz’s return to the Las Vegas 51s did not go well Tuesday night, as the Round Rock Express smacked him around for five runs over four innings during his second rehab start of 2017. The Express kept on smacking the ball after Matz left, piling on until they had a 14-1 lead and catcher Jeff Glenn was sent out to pitch for Las Vegas. But the results of this game were the secondary story of the night, with Matz’s rehab taking the billing as number one.

We call it a rehab start because the major league season is in progress and Matz is making these starts while on the disabled list, but realistically, this is more like Spring Training for Matz, and everyone else is two months ahead of him. The Mets were hoping they could maybe push Matz into the major league rotation after this start, but even if the results were good, I don’t think Matz would’ve been ready for that based on how he pitched.

Top 10 Mets Minors Stories of 2015

Looking back at the top moments and stories from the 2015 season in Mets minor league baseball

       Let's dig right into the list!

Matz Is Like... Half Man, Half Amazin'

The original Iron Matz image!

Verse 1 of the newest hit from DJ Iron Matz (Audio at the bottom)

Matz is Like

Surgery or exile, tendons inserted, a new forearm being born

Same time my mans career is over, the beginning and end

As far as pitching go, it’s only natural I explain

My repertoire, and, also, what defines my game

First I was a thrower only, but times have changed

Ask me now, I’m the pitcher, but hardcore, my arm feels no pain

I get time in the fame, but keep my mind on the game

Saw Thor promoted, and fans post lines of his K’s

Saw my close friends have success, am I next?

That depends, carry baseballs to practice my aim

On rooftops, tape cd covers to trees

Set a fake batter up with your weak picture then release

Throw curveballs to lost souls, in my crosshairs

To the corner outfielders that make the big dough

To the sluggers living large, swinging a light bat

Crushing weak pitchers, getting nice, enjoying your stat line

Is what you make it, SABR advice, too few take it

Head stuck up their ass in the old ways

Majors and minors, pitching legend, presence is felt

And of course M-A-T-Z are the letters that spell…

MATZ, MATZ

Matz is like life or death, I'm a rebel

My repertoire is deep, I never fail

Matz is like.. half man half amazin’

B-Mets Matzterpiece Foiled By A Late Reading Rally

Binghamton Mets @ Reading Fightin’ Phils

August 31, 2015

Steven Matz @ Jake Thompson

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Binghamton	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0		2	8	0
Reading	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	2	X		6	8	0

W: Thompson (4-1, 2.08 ERA); L: Kolarek (2-4, 4.52 ERA); Save: O’Sullivan (4, 2.22 ERA)

MiLB.com Boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Steven Matz (0.00 ERA) – 5.1 IP, H, 2 BB, 4 SO, 78 Pitches (49 Strikes), 8 GO: 2 FO

Erik Goeddel (H, 3, 3.00 ERA) – 0.2 IP, H, BB, 17 Pitches (7 Strikes)

Adam Kolarek (L, 2-4, 4.52 ERA) – 0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, BB

Jon Velasquez (BS, 2, 2.15 ERA) – 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, SO, HR, 38 Pitches (28 Strikes), 2 GO: 2 FO, 3 IR – 3 S

Jake Thompson – 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 4 SO, 97 Pitches (66 Strikes), 4 GO: 6 FO

Ryan O’Sullivan – 2 IP, 4 GO: 2 FO

Batters

T.J. Rivera – 2-4, R, SO

Josh Rodriguez – 2-4, R

Brock Peterson – 1-4, RBI (49), SO

Vince Belnome – 1-4, SO, GIDP

Jared King – 2-3, CS

K.C. Serna – 1-3, RBI (30), SF

J.P. Crawford – 2-4, 2 2B (20), 2 RBI (33), 2 SO

Destin Hood – 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB, SB (5)

Dylan Cozens – 2-4, R, HR (2), 2 RBI (8), SO

Angelo Mora – 1-4, R

Brodie Greene – 1-3, R, RBI (22), BB, SO

Recap

            Assuming the Binghamton Mets hold onto their playoff spot in the Eastern division of the Eastern League, they got a preview of their first round matchup in Reading Monday night against the Fight Phils. The B-Mets were fortunate to be getting a start from rehabbing Steven Matz, who was on an 80-pitch limit, especially since Reading was countering with Readings top-pitching prospect Jake Thompson. The starting pitching matchup lived up to its billing, but Matz’s pitch limit meant the Binghamton bullpen would have to step it up, and they couldn’t hold onto the 2-0 lead, whilte Thompson pitched deep into the game, and then Ryan O’Sullivan threw two perfect innings to hold on for Reading. With the win, the Fightins officially punched their ticket to the postseason.

Steven Matz was great for Binghamton, allowing only one hit (to the first Reading batter of the game) and 2 walks over his 5.1 IP, and departing with a 2-0 lead. He hit 95-96 MPH on the stadium scoreboard multiple times throughout the start, his curve looked as sharp as it has on his rehab, and only two balls were hit beyond the infield on the fly. Matz may not have been as efficient as in his first rehab start with Binghamton, but he looked ready to return. Unfortunately for Binghamton, Jake Thompson was nearly as good, showing off just how tough of an opponent he’ll be in the first round next week. Thompson allowed the 2 Binghamton runs on 3 singles and a sac fly in the 4^th, but he was very much in control otherwise. I heard the Reading announcers call his fastball in the 93-95 MPH range from the stadium scoreboard, and while I didn’t hear velocity calls on his curveball, it was a very effective pitch.

            Erik Goeddel was the first in to relieve Matz, brought in after Matz threw just 4 pitches in the 6^th to inch ever so closer to his 80-pitch limit – I guess Goeddel was intentionally brought into the middle of an inning as preparation for his pending promotion, because he hadn’t done that yet on his rehab, and his previous 3 outings were the back-to-back day test, and then multiple inning test. Goeddel would allow a double to J.P. Crawford and issue a walk in the 6^th, but he kept the shutout intact. Adam Kolarek could not keep the shutout intact during the 7^th, and Jon Velasquez could not strand any of the three base runners he inherited from Kolarek, which led to a 4-2 Reading lead. The Fightin’ Phils would add a pair of runs on a blast from Dylan Cozens in the 8^th, while Binghamton had no fight left over the final innings.

            Check out scoring details and highlights below, as well as some nice defensive plays and highlights from Steven Matz and Jake Thompson. This series continues Tuesday night at 6:35 PM, with Gabriel Ynoa (9-8, 3.83 ERA) scheduled to pitch opposite Ben Lively (8-7, 4.22 ERA), and the Binghamton Mets magic number at 4.

Scoring Highlights