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It's Not Harv To See, Mets' Righty On The Rise

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- While Roy Halladay is trending downward, Matt Harvey is clearly on the rise.

A 2010 first-round pick, the Mets' starter simply blew away Philadelphia on Monday night. Harvey threw seven impressive innings and catcher John Buck hit a three-run homer to lead the Amazin's to a 7-2 win.

"A lot of things were working good for me," Harvey said. "I've been throwing strikes and have had good run support."

Harvey (2-0) followed up a dominant first start with another sharp outing. He gave up one run, three hits and struck out nine. The 24-year-old righty allowed one hit and fanned 10 in seven scoreless innings against San Diego last Wednesday.

On a night when Halladay looked more like an aging star on the decline, Harvey showed he's got the stuff to replace him as the big-time ace in the NL East.

"When you come to Philly, you're usually (fired up) higher than usual," Harvey said. "I tried to tone it down. When you face Doc, it's something special."

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel called Harvey "a top-of-the-rotation guy." In the Mets clubhouse, manager Terry Collins was just as quick to praise the fireballer.

"Nothing surprises me about him," Collins said. "When he needs it, it's there."

Halladay tossed a perfect first inning before his troubles began. Marlon Byrd ripped a one-out double to straightaway center in the second and Halladay hit Lucas Duda with a pitch. Buck followed with an opposite-field drive way out to right-center.

Buck has three homers and 12 RBIs in the first seven games, helping the Mets to a 5-2 start. New York has hit at least one homer in every game, its longest streak to start a season since eight in a row in 1987.

"It feels like I'm doing what I'm capable of doing," Buck said. "I'm not trying too hard to do too much. I'm just letting it come to me, and the results have been good."

Mets fans, we know you expected Harvey to be good -- but THIS good? Sound off in the comments!

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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