There was just a modest turnout to see Steven Matz’s return to New York on Tuesday night, quite a contrast from his major league debut in 2015, when it felt as if all of Citi Field consisted of the left-hander’s family and friends.
“My dad and my uncle, that was it,” the Long Island native and former Met said of Tuesday’s game.
That didn’t stop the tall lefty from putting on an impressive show. In his Big Apple debut as a visitor, Matz shined, leading his Blue Jays to an important, 6-2 victory over the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
“It’s fun coming back here, just being around the city, the buzz in New York, even before the game the fans warming up and stuff,” said Matz, who allowed one run and six hits in 6 ²/₃ innings, walking none and striking out 10. “Even though it’s not a full stadium you definitely feel the energy of New York. It was a lot of fun to go out and compete in that atmosphere.”
Asked if pitching near his Suffolk County home fired him up, Matz said: “Maybe so, yeah. I think a little bit, definitely.”
In stopping a six-game losing streak for his team, Matz lowered his ERA to 4.28, if not Cy Young Award material, then at least considerable progress from the ghastly 9.68 he posted for the Mets in last year’s COVID-shortened campaign. The Mets traded Matz to the Blue Jays in January.
“I think for me it’s always about staying smooth, everything being on time, just being in rhythm and in sync with my mechanics,” Matz said. “When I’m that way, my stuff tends to play up.”
