WASHINGTON _ Steven Matz has two issues that tend to hold him back: health and controlling his emotions. For the most part, neither has been a problem this season.
After Matz's emotional outing in Sunday's 8-6 Mets victory over the Nationals, the best thing that can be said for the lefty is that he's still healthy.
Matz pawed the mound like an angry cat during a three-inning stint in which he allowed 10 baserunners (five hits, four walks and one hit by pitch). He was clearly upset as he sat on the bench following the frustrating outing.
Happily for Matz and the Mets, he did manage to limit the damage to three runs, all coming when the Nationals batted around in the third inning. And when the Mets scored four times in the fourth to take a 5-3 lead, Matz was off the hook. He ended up with a no-decision as the Mets took three of four in their final road series of the season.
Drew Gagnon (2-1) followed Matz and picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Anthony Swarzak, the Mets' seventh pitcher, got the final five outs for his fourth save.
Matz had pitched well in his last six starts, with a 2.29 ERA, and had homered in each of his last two (he had a sacrifice bunt in his only plate appearance Sunday). Matz has one more start to go into the offseason on a high note. That will come on Saturday night against the Marlins at Citi Field in David Wright's final game.
The Mets were leading 1-0 when Victor Robles led off the third with a homer to left. Matz walked Trea Turner, who stole second and scored on Bryce Harper's double to make it 2-1.
Pitching coach Dave Eiland visited Matz, who next allowed a single to Anthony Rendon and hit Mark Reynolds with a pitch to load the bases. Matz struck out Adrian Sanchez for the first out, but walked Spencer Kieboom on a high 3-and-2 pitch to force in a run and make it 3-1.
Matz got out of the jam by getting a 1-2 putout on pitcher Erick Fedde's safety squeeze bunt attempt and then striking out Michael A. Taylor.
Eiland and manager Mickey Callaway talked with Matz in the dugout following the inning. Matz was removed for a pinch hitter as he needed 78 pitches to get through three innings.
The Mets retook the lead in the fourth. Jeff McNeil (4-for-5, walk) singled home a run and Michael Conforto hit a bases-loaded triple past a diving Taylor to make it 5-3.
The Mets scored two in the fifth and one in the sixth to take an 8-3 lead, which helped them withstand Washington's three-run eighth.
