The New York Mets took advantage of some solid pitching and timely hitting to defeat the Atlanta Braves by a score of 8-2 on Sunday at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie.
Pitching
As we get ever so closer to Opening Day, these last remaining spring training games take on much more significance as players make their final push toward getting ready for the start of the new season. Terry Collins, his entire coaching staff, the trainers, and even many in the front office are watching every player more intently and with greater purpose.
You can bet that all eyes were glued to Matt Harvey on Sunday afternoon, as he took to the mound against the Atlanta Braves in what could be his final tuneup of the spring against a major league squad. Attempting to come back from thoracic outlet surgery, Harvey has had a grueling road in his rehab and recovery, working as hard as he can to return to form and being the dominant pitcher he once was. Today he took a giant step in his comeback, as he tossed his best game of the spring.
“I couldn’t be happier than where I am now and ready to start the season,” Harvey told reporters after an 82 pitch effort that saw him hit 97 mph on the radar gun. “I’m ready to have myself a good season.”
The former Mets ace called today a significant improvement over his last start and asserrted that everything is finally starting to click for him, “The timing couldn’t be better. I feel great, I’m feeling stronger, and I can’t wait for the season to start.”
Harvey, 27, allowed two earned runs on five hits and a walk over 6.0 innings pitched while striking out four. But what stood out was his command, his slider, an improved fastball with cutting action, and there was a confidence coming from him that was absent in his previous starts this spring. I would guess that Mets brass let out a collective sigh of relief as Harvey was congratulated by his teammates and coaches in the dugout after he concluded his outing. Today was a good day for Matt Harvey and the Mets.
Fernando Salas and Jerry Blevins combined on a scoreless seventh, while Addison Reed and Josh Smoker finished up with scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth innings.
Offense
After falling behind 2-0, Jose Reyes got the Mets on the board with an RBI-triple to score catcher Kevin Plawecki in the bottom of the fifth inning. Asdrubal Cabrera would follow that up by slashing an RBI single to score Reyes and tie the game.
The Mets would add two more runs and take the lead in the seventh with one run scoring on a wild pitch to Reyes and then Curtis Granderson driving one in with a single.
The Mets pulled all their starters and brought in some reserves from minor league camp in the eighth, and the junior squad would tack on four more runs to the scoreboard to give the Amazins a decisive 8-2 win.
Jose Reyes, who was having a tough spring, broke out with a three-hit game including a double and a triple. He drove in a run while scoring another.
On Deck
The Mets will have a pair of split squad games on Monday with Seth Lugo set to pitch against the Washington Nationals at First Data Field, and Zack Wheeler will deal against the Miami Marlins on the road.
Looking ahead, Noah Syndergaard is expected to pitch in a minor league game in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday, while Jacob deGrom will start the exhibition game in Port St. Lucie against Triple-A Las Vegas 51s on Thursday. Matt Harvey is scheduled to start for the Mets in their exhibition game vs. Army at Citi Field on Friday in his final tuneup before Opening Day.
Are you excited yet? Well you should be!
