In an astonishing debut, Steven Matz became the only major league pitcher to drive in four runs in his first career game while leading the New York Mets to a 7-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
Pitching about 50 miles from home with a huge cheering section on hand, Matz got three hits and helped the Mets to a three-game sweep. He was awfully impressive on the mound, too, working into the eighth inning after giving up a home run to his first batter.
The team's latest prized pitching prospect, Matz had to wait 3 1/2 extra hours to make his much-anticipated debut because the teams needed 13 innings to first complete Saturday's game that was suspended by rain. Picking up in the seventh, New York won 2-1 with help from two miscues by Reds infielders.
Hundreds of fans, some already wearing Matz shirts and jerseys, came to see the lefty from Long Island pitch. But what really got the crowd going were his swings at the plate as the youngster rejuvenated New York's anemic offense.
Matz (1-0) became the first player -- any player, not just a pitcher! -- in franchise history to have four RBI in his first big league game.
