Matt Harvey Off To Hot Start As Mets Blank Phillies
NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Harvey allowed one hit over five sharp innings in his encouraging season debut, and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 on a rainy Tuesday night at Citi Field.
With most seats empty in the 40-degree mist and chill, a healthy-looking Harvey gave the Mets reason to believe he can rebound this year from two terrible seasons interrupted by injury. Though his fastball usually clocked 91-93 mph — down from the sizzling heat he used to bring — the right-hander showed much better command with all his pitches than most outings over the past two years.
Todd Frazier snapped a scoreless tie with a run-scoring double in the sixth. Travis d'Arnaud added a two-out RBI single that chased Ben Lively (0-1), who hit Yoenis Cespedes with a pitch to begin the rally.
Philadelphia put runners at the corners with one out in the ninth, but Jeurys Familia finished the three-hitter for his second save.
First baseman Wilmer Flores, who had just entered as a pinch-hitter, leaned over the dugout railing to make a nice grab of Scott Kingery's foul popup for the second out. Pinch-hitter Andrew Knapp grounded out to end it.
Harvey struck out five, walked one and refused a jacket on the bases after his leadoff single in the third. The only hit he permitted was a leadoff single by Rhys Hoskins in the second.
Jerry Blevins (1-0) retired Odubel Herrera with two on to end the sixth. Seth Lugo followed with two perfect innings, striking out four.
Lively gave up six hits and walked one as the Phillies fell to 1-3 under rookie manager Gabe Kapler. The right-hander struck out five.
New York improved to 3-1 under its own first-year manager, Mickey Callaway.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: RHP Pat Neshek, on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder, was sent for an MRI. ... RHP Mark Leiter Jr. (strained right flexor pronator) was having more tests on his forearm, Kapler said. ... RHP Tommy Hunter (strained hamstring) threw well Monday during a simulated game in Florida but still feels a little tightness in his hamstring and there is no timetable for his return, Kapler said. ... RHP Jake Arrieta threw 66 pitches Monday during his simulated game in Florida and remains scheduled to make his Phillies debut Sunday at home against Miami.
Mets: CF Brandon Nimmo returned to the lineup after getting scratched Sunday due to flu-like symptoms. ... SS Amed Rosario was rested in favor of Jose Reyes. Rosario entered on defense in the seventh. ... New reliever Anthony Swarzak was placed on the 10-day DL after straining a muscle on his left side Saturday in his second appearance with New York. ... Callaway said All-Star OF Michael Conforto (shoulder surgery) could come off the disabled list this week in Washington. New York begins a three-game series against the NL East rival Nationals on Thursday, the first day Conforto is eligible to be activated.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola pitches the series finale Wednesday afternoon, weather permitting. Nola won both his starts against the Mets last year. He was pulled with a 5-0 lead after throwing only 68 pitches Thursday night in Atlanta, and the Braves rallied for an 8-5 victory.
Mets: RHP Noah Syndergaard (1-0) gets the ball for New York after striking out 10 in six innings while beating St. Louis 9-4 on opening day. He is 4-1 with a 1.78 ERA in six career outings against the Phillies.
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