NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 11: Steven Matz #32 of the New York Mets walks off the mound after giving up 7-runs in the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on April 11, 2016. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

The Miami Marlins (2-3) defeated the New York Mets (2-4) this evening by the final score of 10-3 at Citi Field. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_04_11_miamlb_nynmlb_1#game=2016_04_11_miamlb_nynmlb_1,game_tab=box,game_state=Wrapup

Game Notes:

• Steven Matz was rocked for 7 runs on 6 hits in 1.2 innings pitched tonight. Matz also walked 2 and only struck out 1.
• Hansel Robles followed Matz in relief pitching 2.1 innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits, with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts.
• Antonio Bastardo pitched 1.1 innings and his lone mistake came off the bat of Marcell Ozuna for a 2-run homer. He allowed 4 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2.
• Addison Reed, Jeurys Familia, and Jerry Blevins pitched 3.2 scoreless innings.
• David Wright was 2-4 with a double and a run scored.
• Yoenis Cespedes was 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
• Curtis Granderson is now 1-24 to start the season after going 0-4.
• Matz’s outing was the shortest outing by a Mets starting pitcher since Jon Niese on July 4, 2014 against the Texas Rangers.

“Well that escalated quickly,” as the infamous Ron Burgundy would say. This game was simply ugly any way you spin it. Last season the Mets were used to beating on teams in the NL East and the tables have now been turned on them to begin the season, after suffering brutal losses the last three days to the Phillies and Marlins. The Mets certainly had their opportunities to inch back into the game but left eight runners on base, and were 1-7 tonight with runners in scoring position. The Mets hitters collectively need to find a way to get out of the mini-slump they are in at the plate. The slate does not get any easier for the offense as they face Marlins ace Jose Fernandez tomorrow night, and they travel to face the Cleveland Indians this weekend who arguably have the best pitching staff in the American League. Many of these guys are veterans so they are bound to figure it out eventually but lets not wait too much longer please. 

The Mets haven’t had a bad pitching performance yet this season, but it couldn’t have come at worse time with Jacob deGrom leaving to Florida this afternoon to be with his wife and newborn baby. With deGrom gone, Logan Verrett is already expected to make Wednesday’s start in place of deGrom due to his lat injury, which made him unavailable to pitch tonight. Due to those circumstances the bullpen was overworked tonight, and they still have two more games before an off-day Thursday. The only logical option at this point is to place deGrom on paternity leave and recall Sean Gilmartin for bullpen depth. Unfortunately if this move is made deGrom will have to serve a full 15 day DL stint if his right lat has not improved upon return, and he and will not get time served for sitting out his next start. It’s tough to fault Matz for tonight’s start as he is still a rookie and he had not pitched in ten days. Hopefully Matz comes back better on regular rest and his confidence isn’t shaken after tonight’s rough outing. In his last start back on March 31st he did no-hit the Cubs over five innings which displayed the kind of pitcher he can be when he is on his game. Ugly loss with a capital U, and I doubt the Mets continue down this path for too much longer, the same way I doubt Daniel Murphy continuing to hit .471 this season. Hopefully we can get back in the win column tomorrow night in what is sure to be a pitching duel. 

• The Mets play the Marlins in the second game of their three game series tomorrow evening with first pitch slated for 7:10 pm et. Tomorrow night’s game can be seen on SNY.

• The Mets will send the flamethrower Noah Syndergaard (1-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound to face Marlins ace Jose Fernandez (0-1, 7.94 ERA).