METS GAMEDAY

Steven Matz got the Jacob deGrom treatment from the Mets offense.

Matz battled through shaky command to limit the Rays to one run over 6.1 innings Saturday at Citi Field, but the Mets failed to score before falling, 3-0, on a perfect summer day in Flushing.

The Mets have now lost 50 games before the All-Star break for the first time since 2014.

This Saturday evening was reminiscent of so many deGrom starts this year, when the Mets failed to supply their Cy Young candidate with even an ounce of support — to the point where it got comical. Now Matz knows the feeling. The lefthander allowed five hits and three walks, including two in the first inning that loaded the bases. Matz escaped that jam and settled in, striking out five batters over the remainder of his start before exiting with one out in the seventh.

All the while, Blake Snell, the Rays’ rising star and ace, twirled a masterful performance. He allowed six hits and walked three over 7.1 innings, but danced around five leadoff baserunners with key strikeouts and double plays.