Matz adds to PCL-leading strikeout total

Steven Matz was one of the more productive hitters in the 51s lineup on Tuesday night. He also was pretty good on the mound.

The Mets' No. 3 prospect allowed three hits and struck out seven over seven scoreless innings, pitching Triple-A Las Vegas to a 9-1 romp over Colorado Springs at Cashman Field.

Matz helped himself with a pair of RBI singles. He was one of four 51s with at least two RBIs, a group led by second basemen Wilfredo Tovar. In all, the bottom two players in the batting order accounted for five of the team's nine runs.

"I enjoy hitting," Matz said. "I definitely don't like to be an easy out."

The 23-year-old left-hander retired the side in order in the top of the first, striking out Scooter Gennett and Shane Peterson.

"In the first, he was ready," Las Vegas pitching coach Frank Viola said. "That just started his roll. He went right after the hitters and attacked them."

Matz (6-2) needed only 77 pitches to get through seven innings. The Sky Sox threatened briefly in the fifth when his counterpart, Drew Gagnon, deflected a ball off Matz's glove for a base hit to put runners on the corners with two outs. But the 51s starter got Gennett to ground out to shortstop to end the inning.

"Some of the stuff I work on when I get in tough spots like that," Matz said, "is just taking a deep breath and slowing things down."

The Long Island native increased his Minor League-leading strikeout total to 68 while issuing one walk. MLB.com's No. 61 overall prospect said the strikeouts are the result of staying close to the zone.

"I know guys are more patient at this level," he said. "So it comes down to just attacking the zone."

Matz leads the Pacific Coast League in wins and ranks second with a 1.99 ERA. But he said he still has to work on his changeup before he feels ready for the next level. He throws a fastball and curve to go with the changeup, but he hopes to throw the latter more often, something Viola said he's worked on with the 2009 second-round pick.

"He's been so dominating at this level so far this season that you can look the other way at times," Viola said. "When he gets to the next level, he has to have that changeup. It's nothing to be alarmed about. It's actually a nice situation to have.

"You look at Steven's record and if that's the biggest problem you have, trying to get a feel for the changeup, then you're in a pretty good spot."

Gagnon (1-6) was charged with seven runs on eight hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings and lost his sixth straight decision. He struck out one.