LAS VEGAS -- Steven Matz tossed five no-hit innings and Yoenis Cespedes, Ty Kelly, Eric Campbell and T.J. Rivera homered as the New York Mets beat the Chicago Cubs, 8-1, Friday at Cashman Stadium in the final tune-up for Opening Day.
The Mets snapped a 14-game winless streak. They had not won since St. Patrick’s Day.
“It’s been a long spring,” captain David Wright said. “As you can see on guys’ faces and partially on the field, guys are ready to get it going. With how many games and how many practices and how many hours the guys spend on the field during spring, you get to this point and you just want to get the season started.
“So I think guys are excited to get into the routine of getting to a city, getting on the road. I think that’s why it was good to come to Vegas -- to get in that mentality where you’re in the hotel, you have your road preparation.”
With the Mets playing twice during the opening five days of the season, Matz will be available out of the bullpen in Kansas City on Tuesday, after his arm rebounds from his 73-pitch outing in Las Vegas. He is not scheduled to start until, potentially, next Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
“We’ve done this in the playoffs. We did it last year,” Matz said about being used erratically. “You just go out and throw your bullpen and do what you need to do on the field and in the weight room and in the training room, and it’s going to be there. I feel like I’ve thrown enough innings in spring to where I’m where I need to be.”
Matz limited the Cubs to two walks and had an error by third baseman Wilmer Flores committed behind him.
Sean Gilmartin, ticketed for Triple-A Las Vegas’ rotation to open the season, surrendered a one-out double to Tommy La Stella in the sixth for Chicago’s first hit. La Stella ultimately scored on a bases-loaded walk by Gilmartin for the Cubs’ lone run.
For the record, Gary Kroll and Gordy Richardson combined for the only spring-training no-hitter in Mets history. It came on March 21, 1965.
Matz combined to limit the Washington Nationals and Cubs to one run and one hit in 9 2/3 innings over his final two appearances, albeit with six walks.
“Definitely a good way to go into the season and kind of hit the ground running now,” Matz said. “I was pretty pleased with the way my slider was working. That’s something I’ve been using and working on, on and off, for the past year or so. I feel like I’m really getting it close to where I need it to be.”
The Mets finished their exhibition schedule with an 8-17-5 record. They did not produce much offensively over the final two weeks, but the slate is now wiped clean.
“Obviously this spring wasn’t successful from a numbers standpoint or wins or whatnot,” Neil Walker said. “But you look at the track record, you look at what guys have done in the past -- we got through this spring for the most part pretty healthy -- I think on paper you look at it and you say this is a pretty lengthy lineup. If guys stay healthy and they do what they’re capable of doing, this is one of the stronger lineups in the league in my opinion.”
What’s next: Matt Harvey opposes Edinson Volquez at 8:37 p.m. ET on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball as the Mets and Kansas City Royals open the season at Kauffman Stadium in a World Series rematch.