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Mets: Revisiting the best moments of Matt Harvey with the Amazins

ByAndrew Van Buskirk|
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Matt Harvey #33 of the New York Mets reacts after the final out of the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals during game five of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field on November 1, 2015 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Royals defeated the Mets 7-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 01: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Matt Harvey #33 of the New York Mets reacts after the final out of the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals during game five of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field on November 1, 2015 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Royals defeated the Mets 7-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 17: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Matt Harvey #33 of the New York Mets throws for an out in the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs during game one of the 2015 MLB National League Championship Series at Citi Field on October 17, 2015 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets defeated the Cubs 4-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

RAISE THE W: OCTOBER 17, 2015

Location: Flushing
Opponent: Chicago Cubs
Result: Mets W
Game Score: 70

I’ll admit: on a good day, I might rank this one higher on the list of all-time great Mets pitching performances. I’m sure there are plenty who would do the same considering its place on the schedule, especially since it ended in a signature win.

Appearing in their first NLCS since 2006, the Mets were in their best position in nearly a decade to reach the Fall Classic. Considering the stakes, Citi Field was like a pressure cooker.

The stature of their opponent didn’t help much: the 2015 Chicago Cubs were (unbeknownst to them of course) just one season away from winning their first World Series since 1908.

Craving postseason success of their own, the Cubbies had finished 2015 with a 97-65 record. After winning their Wild Card matchup and immediately toppling a 100-win Cardinals team en route to the LCS, there were questions about whether the Amazin’s were up to the task.

Harvey sure was.

Though most people remember the 2015 postseason as the Daniel Murphy Playoffs (as well they should), I often hear Harvey’s name left out of the conversation.

This game had everything you’d expect from vintage Harvey: excellent control, near triple-digit velocity, and all the grit you could ever hope for in a starting pitcher.

Perhaps the most critical moment of Harvey’s night came in the top of the 6th inning. With the bases empty, Harvey delivered a 2-1 fastball to Chicago’s Dexter Fowler. Fowler shot it right back at Harvey, the ball deflecting off his throwing shoulder and popping into the sky before landing on the field behind him.

Naturally, he gathered himself and made the play.

Immediately after throwing Fowler out at first, Harvey waved to the Mets dugout, indicating to manager Terry Collins and pitching coach Dan Warthen that he didn’t need any assistance. Despite doing their due diligence and checking on him anyway, turns out the ace was right.

Harvey would go on to fan nine Cubs on his way to a series-opening win. The victory set the stage for an eventual sweep of the Cubs, sending the Mets to their first World Series in 15 years.

Final Line: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 9 K’s

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