Young Mets Ace Matt Harvey Shuts Out Rockies, 5-0, for First Career Complete Game, but Gets Injured in Ninth Inning, with One Strike to Go

 

 

By Nicholas Stix

Minor League call-up Wilmer Flores, subbing for ailing captain David Wright, hit a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the eighth, to give Harvey three insurance runs. However, with two out in the top of the ninth, and Rockies’ left fielder Charlie Blackmon looking at an 0-2 count, Blackmon hit a bullet off the top of Harvey’s left knee, for only Colorado’s fourth hit.

Harvey waved off Mets’ trainer Ray Ramirez, but he was clearly hurting. However, he was able to get Troy Tulowitzki to hit a popout to Daniel Murphy, just behind first base, to end the game.

Working without his A game, Harvey gave up only four hits, no walks, and got six strikeouts, about half his average for Ks. He did not throw his fastball anywhere near as hard as he had been of late, when he had averaged around 98 MPH, and hit 99, and even 100. Tonight, he was closer to 94, 95. He got 14 outs through ground outs, which allowed him to keep his pitch count down to only 91 through eight, which is why Mets skipper Terry Collins gave him the ball in the ninth. Harvey’s record is now 9-3, with 11 no-decisions, due to the Mets’ typically lousy run production behind him.

Although the Mets won their last two games, they are still only 51-60.