The New York Mets (5-6) defeated the Cleveland Indians (5-5)  this afternoon in the rubber match of their 3-game series at Progressive Field by the final score of 6-0. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_04_17_nynmlb_clemlb_1&mode=box#game=2016_04_17_nynmlb_clemlb_1,game_tab=box,game_state=Wrapup

Game Notes:

• Steven Matz was dominant this afternoon, pitching 7 scoreless innings while striking out a career high 9 batters. He only allowed 3 hits and walked 2. This was Matz first win of the season.
• Michael Conforto was 2-3 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI’s and 2 runs scored.
• Asdrubal Cabrera was 2-5 this afternoon with 2 runs scored and an RBI on a squeeze bunt single.
• Curtis Granderson was 1-3 with a triple and 2 runs scored.
• Lucas Duda was 1-4 with a 2-run single.
• Yoenis Cespedes was 1-3 with an RBI double.
• Hansel Robles, Jerry Blevins, and Addison Reed combined to pitch 2 scoreless and hitless innings. The trip combined to strike out 6.

Today the Mets played their most complete game so far this season in my opinion. Steven Matz rebounded nicely from his last start, pitching seven scoreless innings and striking out a career high nine batters. You really didn’t know what to expect from Matz this afternoon after he got shelled in his last start, and many young pitchers struggle to rebound immediately from such a start. Matz showed great perseverance today and proved he does have the makeup to be a great starting pitcher in this league. It’s almost astounding to think that this is just Matz’s eighth career regular season start, and surely the best is yet to come. 

The Mets offense was alive today as it has been most of this series. It didn’t hurt to receive some help from two misplayed balls in the top of the second inning by Rajai Davis in the outfield either. The offense jumped on former AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber early on in the game, which has been his kryptonite as he tends to start off slow. Once the Mets built a big enough lead there was no turning back as they just kept rolling along. Michael Conforto hitting in the three spot has really jumped started this offense as well, and we can expect him to stay in that spot for much of the season against right-handers, with the way he is producing. Get excited Mets fans as Conforto has as much promise as any young player on this team.

Getting away from the negative energy in New York looks to have done wonders for the team in this series. Hopefully the Mets can keep that momentum going into Philadelphia where they seek to avenge last weekend’s poor offensive showing against their NL East rivals. Yoenis Cespedes is also expected to be back in the field tomorrow after filling in as a DH the past three games due to leg soreness, which has lingered from a dive in the stands he made after a foul ball last Wednesday afternoon. 

• The Mets begin a 3-game series in Philadelphia tomorrow evening with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm et. The game can be seen on SNY.

• Noah Syndergaard (1-0, 0.69 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Mets opposing Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (1-1, 1.50 ERA).