Just Mets

Early on, it looked like the Mets could have been in for a special Harvey Day on Friday.

Nine up, nine down, five of them by way of the strikeout on scintillating upper-90s heat.

But then came the fourth inning.

It started with a drag bunt single from Dee Gordon, which spoiled whatever unrealistic dream everyone was having at the moment. Then, a walk to Martin Prado.

Then, a bad slider.

Justin Bour proceeded to square up on a hanging slider to launch a three-run home run to right field, knocking the Mets down 3-0 in shocking fashion.

“It’s frustrating, obviously,” Matt Harvey said after losing his third straight decision. “I wish I could have that pitch back.”

It was only the second three-run home run Harvey has ever allowed in 46 career starts.

Harvey was pleased with the fact he was able to limit the damage, but felt he didn’t do his job with his mistake to Bour.

“I was happy that I got to eight innings and kind of kept the game somewhat within reach,” Harvey explained. “It’s just frustrating. I’m obviously not happy. I needed to put up zeroes and I wasn’t able to do that.”

It was the only mistake Harvey really paid the price for the entire night.

It’s going to happen, even to Harvey. But it was a questionable call against the left-handed power of Bour, not so much for the pitch selection but for it’s location.

Kevin Plawecki called for a first-pitch slider on the outside part of the plate. In order for Harvey to throw it for a strike, it needs to almost hang by nature in that location. Instead, he hung it over the middle of the plate and it sat up on a tee for Bour. It happens and, as Harvey said, if he could do it over again, perhaps he would’ve done things differently in that sequence.

That pitch was reminiscent of his challenge to command his slider after the third inning. He hung a lot of them and missed the location with several more, but what was interesting was that he didn’t go to his curveball or change-up knowing he was struggling with his slider.

Now, that doesn’t discredit Harvey’s performance on Friday, because outside of that one pitch – which still counts – he was great.

His fastball was electrifying and he remained efficient while dominant. He didn’t waver or lose it after that mistake, and he really looked like the Matt Harvey everyone has come to expect and enjoy, debunking any concerns or speculation he had hit a wall.

Harvey discounted the possibility he was going through a dead arm phase, instead aiming his problems last weekend in particular to poor mechanics.

“I just kind of got out of my mechanics,” Harvey explained. “When you have missed a year and you go out there and battle every time, you’re finding out again what your mechanics are doing. For me, I think, mechanics-wise it was a lot better this time. We’ve just got to keep that going and really just stay focused on that.”

Harvey went eight innings and allowed four runs, a walk six hits and fanned 11. It was the 11th time in Harvey’s career he’s recorded double-digit strikeouts in a game. But it’s the first time in his career he’s allowed four runs or more in back-to-back starts.

Harvey is 5-3 with a 3.11 ERA in ten starts this season. He’s allowed seven home runs, 54 hits, and 11 walks with 71 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings.