The Mets’ Steven Matz stymied the Nationals for 8 solid innings in Washington DC yesterday and I was lucky enough to have some really good seats. Here’s a couple of photos:
Curtis Granderson is a really nice guy. He spoke with the fans right around my seat before every at bat and came off as genuine. He had a whole section of Nats fans rooting for him pretty hard by the end. He also got a pretty steady diet of breaking balls from Tanner Roark.
This, though, is a fastball high and away in his first at bat.
David Wright clubbed a first inning solo shot on the next pitch.
Yoenis Cespedes is absolutely huge.
Jayson Werth went hitless again on Wednesday. Here he grounds out.
You could really get a good feel for movement from here. Roark is pitching in this frame but Matz had a 94 mph sinker going that no one could touch.
Michael Conforto takes a fastball inside.
The crowd wen’t absolutely nuts when Bryce Harper pinch hit in the 8th. The energy he brings is completely different than anyone else. I wouldn’t say this groundout made a different sound coming off his bat, but it definitely felt different since every fan in the ballpark was on the edge of their seat.
-Max Frankel
