8/1 Game Recap: Harvey Slips, Offense Stumbles As Mets Fall

It is the day every Mets fan looks forward to; Harvey Day. In the final game of the four game set between the Miami Marlins, the Mets sent out their ace Matt Harvey (8-2, 2.11 ERA, .088 WHIP) to face the Marlins’ Tom Koehler(2-6, 4.67 ERA, 1.30 WHIP). Harvey looked to be dominant again as he was in his last start when he went eight terrific innings against the Nationals. Koehler last faced the Mets during a June 9th game, allowing four runs in seven innings.

Aug 1, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) reacts in the dugout after being taken out of the game during the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets got a first inning opportunity when Justin Turner doubled and Marlon Byrd walked. Ike Davis worked a long at-bat, fouling off many pitches, but struck out on a fastball right down the middle to end the inning.

After Matt Harvey posted two hitless innings striking out three, the Mets loaded the bases in third with two outs thanks to a hit by Turner, a walk to Wright and Byrd being plunked in the elbow. Again Ike Davis was in the thick of it with two outs. And again he did not come through as he popped out in foul ground to end the inning.

Harvey came back to the mound and struck out two more, making it four in a row, before surrendering the first hit of the game to none other than Koehler. Harvey then induced a groundout from Christian Yelich to end the third.

Juan Lagares hit a one out triple in the fourth, but Omar Quintanilla and Harvey left him at third.

In the fifth with the game still scoreless Marlon Byrd ripped a pitch into center which looked like it was going to drop, but Jake Marisnick made a highlight reel catch in center and doubled off David Wright at first base to end yet another threat.

The Mets yet again put runners on first and second during the sixth inning, but Koehler escaped danger again when he struck out Harvey. The Mets left nine on base during the first six innings.

The Marlins’ half of the sixth undid Harvey’s day. Juan Pierre came on as a pinch hitter and started the rally with a single. It’s his seventh hit in fifteen at-bats against Harvey. Yelich singled and Pierre went to third. While Harvey got two straight outs and looked reared to get out of the inning, Logan Morisson put the Marlins on the board with an RBI single. Donavon Solano worked out on incredible turn at the plate and singled in two runs to make it 3-0 Marlins. Harvey was done and Scott Atchison replaced him with two inherited runners. Atchison struck out Marisnick to end the inning with the Mets down three.

Gonzalez Germen threw two shutout innings in the seventh and eight

While Quintanilla led off the final frame with a single, the Mets could do nothing with it and fell by a score of 3-0 in a very frustrating game.

Notes

• Matt Harvey went 5.2 innings and was charged with three runs in the loss. He gave up five hits and struck out eight in his performance. He gave up all his runs in the sixth
• The Mets left a grand total of 18 runners on base, with golden opportunities early and often. They could just not find the big hit they needed.
• Ike Davis missed two of the Mets’ great opportunities when he struck out with runners on first and second and popped up with the bases loaded. He also was hit in the face with a knee while trying to break up a double play at second.
• The Met bullpen looked strong not allowing any runs in their 2.1 innings in the game.
• Eric Young, Jr. had a rough day at the plate, going o-5 in the leadoff spot.

Thoughts

It was a very frustrating day for the Mets with their ace on the mound. On a day which should have been a joyous one for the team, it was not. Harvey did pitch well for the first five innings and deserved to have a lead going into the sixth. Whether it was humidity or putting too much pressure on himself, Harvey could not escape trouble in the sixth. He seems to have some trouble in Miami out of all the parks he has pitched in.

The offense had plenty of chances to win or tie this game up. They did not lack runners on base, rather the hit to get them in. Ike Davis was a huge culprit in this one, leaving five on base. His batting average is now .180.

With Harvey on the mound it felt the Mets would take the series in Miami. However, it did not happen and a good series to start ends up being a frustrating split as the Mets’ bats did not hit in the final two games.

Next Up

The Mets head home this weekend to take on the Kansas City Royals at Citi Field. The Mets will send out Dillon Gee (7-8, 4.13 ERA) against Wade Davis (5-9, 5.50 ERA) at 7:10. The Royals have been on fire of late, and are about to wrap up their ninth straight win. The Mets will get all they can handle from the surging Royals.

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