Steven Matz appeared overwhelmed by the situation, at least briefly. In the first inning of Friday night's Subway Series opener, the Mets lefty was touched up for a run.
He lacked command of his fastball and feel for his curveball -- casualties perhaps from the heightened scrutiny of pennant-race games with the crosstown Yankees.
But the former Ward Melville star settled in, holding the Yankees to just one run in six innings, an encouraging outing for a starting rotation that has slumped through September.
DataSubway Series history: Yankees vs. MetsDataLI baseball stars drafted by MLB teams all-time
Starting pitching has been the Mets' undisputed strength.