Last night on Twitter one of my followers asked why we get so ramped up for Harvey Day when it so often results in a loss. I had to think about that one for a second, but thinking back to a few times this season and at least 7-8 times in 2013, he may be right.
Matt Harvey did pitch well enough to win on Friday night, despite being charged with four runs on six hits and a walk in eight innings pitched.
However, it was a hanging slider to Justin Bour in the fourth inning that proved to be his ultimate undoing. The Marlins first baseman blasted it for a three-run homer to right field which became too much for the Mets to overcome.
“I wish I could have that pitch back,” a dejected Harvey told reporters afterward. “I tried to throw a slider backdoor, and it kind of spun over the middle and cost us the game. It cost me the game. I’m frustrated.”
The Mets ace has now lost three straight decisions, tying his career-high, and has lost consecutive starts for the first time since September 4-12, 2012.
On the plus side, Harvey did notch 11 strikeouts in the game, the ninth double-digit strikeout game of his career and the most since he had 11 strikeouts on June 28, 2013 vs. Washington.
Unfortunately this was also the first time in his career he’s allowed four or more runs in consecutive starts, coming on the heels of a career worst seven run barrage against the Pirates on May 23 at Pittsburgh.
“It’s frustrating, obviously,” Harvey admitted. But he’s not buying into Terry Collins’ theory that he is dealing with a dead arm. And judging by his average fastball velocity of 97.5 MPH last night, he’s right.
Instead Harvey said it’s a process of trying to fine tune his mechanics after a 15-month layoff.
“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.”
I think Harvey is fine. Yes, he paid dearly for hanging that one pitch, but let’s not forget he displayed his dominanting form for the majority of the game.
