On a cold and misty night in Flushing, Matt Harvey took the mound with question marks all around him. Would he be able to pitch accurately? Would he be able to strike batters out? Would he be an effective starter coming off of Thoracic Outlet surgery? He answered all the questions with a definitive yes. Besides two solo home runs by Matt Kemp, Harvey pitched a spotless, efficient game. In total, he allowed three hits and struck out four in 6.2 innings pitched. My gut reaction is that Harvey looked vintage tonight, not only in physical shape but also in pitch control abilities. If he pitches like this all season, he would be a scary good third pitcher in the rotation.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Mets’s offense was jolted alive by a Travis d’Arnaud double in the fifth inning and a Wilmer Flores two run home run in the sixth.
Neil Walker hit a double to pair with a single, and Yoenis Cespedes added a double of his own. Asdrubal Cabrera delivered an RBI single, and Jose Reyes finally got his first hit of the season. Curtis Granderson also contributed a single. Although Jay Bruce did not produce a hit, he drew his fourth walk during this young season, which is a positive sign. Tonight, the offense showed the potential it has of being dangerous at all levels of the batting order.
The relief pitching combination of Jerry Blevins, Fernando Salas, and Addison Reed allowed no runs, and combined for four strikeouts.
The Mets won the rubber game of the series against the Braves tonight, and look forward to tomorrow when Zach Wheeler takes the hill against the Marlins in the first game of a three game series against the Miami Marlins.
Positive signs throughout. Two out of three and a series win against a division team was expected and the Mets did not disappoint.
Harvey was very effective.
A key to a dominant season is for Flores and TDA to hit LHP. They delivered.The lineup is more susceptible to LHP with Bruce and Granderson being LHB and Reyes and Walker hitting from the right side.
With the low pitch count, Harvey could have gone another batter or two to complete the inning.
TC showed little confidence in the second tier of his bullpen allowing Salas and Reed to pitch in a non save situation.
Marlins are next so lets do a Luca Brasi and let them sleep with the fishes
Almost a perfect win. Harvey, very encouraging.
Reyes crushes LHP last season, didn’t hit RHP. Walker and Cespedes hit LHP well. Bruce does not have bad splits. I don’t particularly worry about the Mets vs. LHP. I think their problems will come from
Poor leadoff work from Jose vs. RHP.
TJ Rivera should get the start tonight and let Jose Reyes get a rest.
There was no reason to pitch Reed with a four-run lead. Shoot, two of the three batters in the ninth were lefties, making the move to use Edgin.
I know people were concerned about how the Mets were going to do against Freeman and Swanson. Well, those two went 5-27.
I think the 9th was Freeman, Kemp, Markakis.
I have zero issue having Reed get an inning.
It was a four-run lead. If Edgin gives up three straight homers, you still have Reed to bring on with a lead.
Now, Reed has pitched in back-to-back games and will likely be unavailable for at least one game against the Marlins. If he hadn’t pitched at all, I could see using him in that spot. But it just wasn’t necessary.
Generally speaking, I am of the “win the game in front of you” approach. Early in the season, Reed is nowhere near burnt out. Who knows what the next three games will bring. I didn’t mind it.
But at same time, I wouldn’t have minded the other way. Can Edgin throw two days in a row? Three? If he went, I doubt he’d be available tonight. Now he is. And so is Reed.
Win the game, get into the clubhouse and open a beer. Feels good.
Regarding the “Vintage” comments… He looked like Vintage Greg Maddux or Masahiro Tanaka. I would take that!!!
I was surprised that he didn’t hit a big number on the gun at any point, but he really impressed me with his mental approach. The stuff may keep us waiting and wondering for a while, but The Pitcher is back!