Matz continues strong stretch for starters

Steven Matz carved a sliver of optimism out of one of the Mets’ ugliest losses of the season.

Prior to the Mets’ bullpen blowing up — allowing 14 runs over the final two innings of Sunday’s 15-0 loss — Matz put forth one of his best performances of the year, tying a season high with seven innings thrown, while allowing only one run against the Nationals.

Matz (5-11), who allowed five hits and one walk and struck out seven, completed seven innings for the first time since June 26 and now has posted a 2.25 ERA in his past two starts.

“Matz was great. Given where he’s been lately, I think [this] was a big step for him,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “He looked like the guy that we saw earlier in the season, throwing the ball over the plate, getting in a rhythm, shaking things off, doing a good job of focusing on the next pitch, and he threw a great game for us.”

The lefty from Long Island opened with five shutout frames — extending the Mets’ scoreless-pitching stretch to 24 innings — and allowed his lone run on an RBI groundout by Juan Soto in the sixth inning. Matz’s outing marked the MLB-high ninth time this season a Mets starter threw at least seven innings and allowed one run or fewer and the team still lost.

Over the past nine games, Mets starters have combined for a 1.39 ERA.

“I had a good sinker and good changeup. That kind of sums it up,” said Matz, who lowered his ERA to 4.36. “I was able to keep the ball down with my sinker and keep them off the fastball with my changeup.”

Brandon Nimmo went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk for Single-A St. Lucie and played eight innings in right field.

Callaway said catcher Devin Mesoraco (neck), who hasn’t played since being pulled from Thursday’s game, has shown slight improvement but is still day-to-day.

The Staten Island Little League team, which reached the semifinals of the U.S. bracket at the Little League World Series, took batting practice before the game and met with several members of the Mets.