LOS ANGELES — In the first inning Sunday, Steven Matz stared down Adrian Gonzalez, the Dodgers slugger who had homered twice in his last two games against the Mets. Matz tried to make a statement. He hurled a 95-mile-per-hour fastball, challenging Gonzalez, one of the game’s best hitters.
But the ball trailed away and plunked Gonzalez. Matz reflexively turned away, and Gonzalez eventually left the game at Dodger Stadium with a contusion to his right hand.
This was Matz’s second career start, and once again, he looked a bit erratic early on. But he also had the poise to recover and throw six shutout innings, tallying eight strikeouts and holding the Dodgers to two hits.