NEW YORK -- Needing a victory to shove memories of Matt Harvey and this week's Nationals series firmly into the past, the Mets turned Friday to two of their budding stars. Steven Matz pitched seven sharp innings to win his sixth consecutive start, and Michael Conforto delivered the decisive two-run homer in a 3-2 triumph over the Brewers at Citi Field.
Making his first start since skipping an outing due to left elbow soreness, Matz fell into an early hole when Chris Carter hit a two-run homer off him in the first. But the left-hander retired 15 in a row after that, cruising through seven innings with eight strikeouts and no walks.
By that time, Matz was back in control thanks to Conforto's opposite-field homer off Brewers starter Wily Peralta. The Mets had drawn within a run of the lead on Rene Rivera's RBI groundout in the second inning, but did not touch Peralta again until Conforto bashed a 95-mph fastball over the fence in the sixth.
Peralta, who had retired 10 straight batters from the third through fifth innings, could not escape the sixth. He fell to 2-5 on the season, despite actually improving his ERA to 6.99.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Opposite field, opposite score: Conforto turned a one-run deficit into a one-run lead with one swing of the bat in the sixth inning, launching a Peralta pitch over the wall in left. That plated Asdrubal Cabrera, who had singled to open the inning, and gave Conforto his second homer in four games.
Struggles resurface: Through five innings, Peralta rewarded the Brewers' confidence in him after they flirted with the decision to skip his turn in the rotation. Milwaukee's Opening Day starter allowed just one run on three hits and a walk in that span. In the sixth, however, the struggles that have plagued the right-hander returned and the Mets struck for two runs on three hits, a hit by pitch and a walk before Carlos Torres entered to end the frame.
Anthony DiComo has covered the Mets for MLB.com since 2008. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDiComo and Facebook, and listen to his podcast.
Troy Provost-Heron is a reporter for MLB.com and covered the Brewers on Friday.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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