“It’s like he never left,” said Gary Cohen as Matt Harvey walked off the mound – swagger and all – after striking out Clint Robinson to end the sixth and complete his incredible and somewhat magical return to baseball.
Harvey’s first pitch of the day was a scintillating 96 mph fastball for a strike that seemed to announce his return with the echoing pop of the glove. Three pitches later and Washington’s leadoff batter Michael Taylor would strike out swinging, and everyone knew the Dark Knight was back.
Harvey was in command all day, throwing first pitch strikes to 20 of the first 22 Nationals batters he faced, and notching his 20th start in which he allowed one run or less. When all was said and done, Harvey went six dominating and scoreless innings with nine strikeouts, tossing 91 pitches, 63 of them strikes.
Clash of the Titans
Perhaps the best part of his outing for me, was watching him strike out Bryce Harper three times on high hard ones. And after the game, Harper commented on his day against the Mets hard-throwing righty:
“He is always good. Taking a year off, it’s just a setback that he had. Fortunately, he is going to come back and do what he does,” Harper said. “We saw it in Spring Training. He did very well in Spring Training. He came back today. He did what he had to do. He shut us down.
“He is tough out there. I said it a million times. He is going to win a Cy Young [Award[ one day. Everybody knows that. It’s one of the toughest at-bats I’ve ever had. He is very tough out there. He is a very good pitcher.”
It is pleasing to the gods to see a man honored by his enemies….
“I just go about things the way that I do and the way that I know how. That’s what I’ve always done,” said Harvey last month during spring training when told that many now view him as a leader in the Mets clubhouse.
“I do everything I can to win and lead by example on the field. That’s important to me. I never asked for it, but it’s come and it’s a great honor. It’s something I take great pride in.”
We have been blessed with someone who has the swagger and the elite level talent of the all time greats in Matt Harvey. He exudes confidence at a level I’ve never seen before. He’s a warrior who refuses to lose and will do whatever it takes to lead his men to victory and glory. This must be our reward for six years of suffering. It has to be.
