VIERA, Fla. -- Working on short rest in his second Grapefruit League start, Steven Matz departed in the third inning with the bases loaded and none out. Antonio Bastardo proceeded to allow all three inherited runners to score, and the New York Mets went on to lose to the Washington Nationals 9-5 on Friday at Space Coast Stadium.
Matz walked the opening two batters of the third on four pitches apiece. He then coaxed a routine fly ball to left field from Scott Sizemore. However, Alejandro De Aza misjudged it, and the baseball dropped for what was ruled a single that loaded the bases.
Matz was charged with three runs on two hits and two walks in two-plus innings. He struck out one in a 41-pitch effort, which included 27 strikes. He also committed a throwing error to second base, trying to initiate a double play in the second inning, but escaped that jam.
“I don’t think you ever care for walks,” Matz said. “I just got a little erratic there. It’s still early.”
The Mets scored four runs (three earned) in the ninth against Jonathan Papelbon, but nonetheless dropped to 4-4-2 in Grapefruit League play.
Bastardo was pitching for the first time since allowing a pair of ninth-inning solo homers to the New York Yankees on Wednesday in a blown save.
“He’s working on stuff,” manager Terry Collins said. “He’s a big believer in command of the fastball. So that’s the pitch he’s throwing right now, trying to get his command of it to both sides of the plate.”
Matz indicated that working on short rest did not negatively affect his performance. Bartolo Colon and Matz each worked a split-squad game on Monday, and one of them needed to go a day early to get the staff on an every-five-days pitching schedule.
“I felt good. I really wanted to stay in there and try to work out of that,” Matz said about the third inning. “... I’ve really been trying to work out of the stretch -- be more effective out of the stretch. I’ve been talking to [pitching coach] Dan [Warthen] about that. I think that kind of got away from me today -- eight straight balls there.”
The Mets had opened the scoring on Juan Lagares’ third-inning RBI single, which plated Roger Bernadina. Sean Gilmartin surrendered a seventh-inning run, while Duane Below was charged with five runs in the eighth as the Nats opened a 9-1 lead.
Short stuff: With Asdrubal Cabrera now potentially ticketed for the disabled list to start the season and David Wright not yet in Grapefruit League games, Ruben Tejada started at shortstop. He went 1-for-2 before being replaced by Gavin Cecchini.
The St. Louis Cardinals are interested in acquiring Tejada as a fill-in for the injured Jhonny Peralta, but the Mets now may be more inclined to retain Tejada considering Cabrera’s injury.
“If they give me the opportunity, I will be ready to play -- like every time,” Tejada said. “I came here ready. You never know what will happen.”
Said Collins about Tejada: “I don’t know what he needs to prove. He’s been here for five years. We have a very, very good idea of what he can do. He showed up in great shape in spring training, which we were all excited about. He’s going to get a chance now to go out there and show us that he wants to make the club. We’ll see where it’s at in a couple of weeks.”
Collins added that Wilmer Flores and Matt Reynolds will also get reps at shortstop, at least once Reynolds (tight hamstring) is ready to return to Grapefruit League games. Reynolds has resumed hitting and should return to games early next week, according to the manager.
Tejada said that he has not considered the possibility of being dealt.
“I don’t think about that, because I don’t make any decisions here,” he said. “I can’t do anything.”
Meanwhile, Tejada is showing no ill effects from the fractured fibula in his right leg, which he suffered during Game 2 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on a slide by Chase Utley.
“I feel good. I don’t feel any pain or anything,” Tejada said.
Old friends: Daniel Murphy singled against Matz in his lone plate appearance. Oliver Perez tossed a perfect fourth inning. Matt den Dekker walked and stole a base after replacing Ben Revere in the third inning. Den Dekker also grounded out an inning later against Logan Verrett.
What’s next: Colon makes his second Grapefruit League start as the Mets host the Cardinals on Saturday at 1:10 p.m. ET (WPIX/WOR). Left-hander Tyler Lyons is due to start for St. Louis.
Collins said David Wright will appear in his first Grapefruit League game “pretty soon.”
