Matt Harvey returned to the pitcher's mound for the first time on Tuesday since the New York Mets' Game 5 loss in the World Series. Harvey also pitched in that game, and today provided some deja vu for the right-hander.
The Mets fells to the Braves 5-4 thanks to a blown save by Zach Thornton. New York held a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, but Thornton allowed two earned runs on four hits as Atlanta walked off on an Emilio Bonifacio single. Youngster Dansby Swanson delivered the game-tying RBI triple.
Harvey delivered three innings of work and allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks. The run came on a sacrifice fly from Braves outfielder Nick Markakis in the bottom of the third, but the right-hander was throwing well and hitting 97 mph on the radar gun. He needed only seven pitches to retire the side in the first inning.
He got himself into some trouble in the second and third innings after loading the bases in each frame, but he escaped relatively unscathed and ended up throwing 41 pitches in the outing. Overall, it was a much lower-key spring debut compared to last year when he was returning from Tommy John surgery.
Last spring there was a lot of unknown regarding the 26-year-old's surgically-repaired elbow, but he managed to sit down six straight batters and blew away batters with his 99 mph fastball in his debut against the Detroit Tigers. That quickly put any doubt to rest.
Harvey is just glad this time around he's not being asked as many questions.
"Last year, obviously, there was a lot of unknown -- where things are going to be regarding the surgery," Harvey said. "I think this year it's nice not hearing, 'How is your arm feeling? Are you healthy?' all the time."
Instead, the former first-round draft pick is hoping to put that ninth inning of Game 5 of the World Series behind him and focus on getting back to the Fall Classic in 2016. That may have been evident by the improvement of his slider, which he was on target with throughout his outing.
"It was violent," Braves prospect Mallex Smith, who struck out on the pitch, said after the game. "It started above my waist and ended up in the dirt. It's pretty nasty, I'll give him that."
Nasty is exactly what Harvey is hoping for this upcoming season. The right-hander is ready to go after agreeing to a one-year, $4.33 million deal with the Mets to avoid arbitration. He notched a career-high in innings pitched last season, which was his first year following Tommy John surgery, so the Mets will again be on the lookout to give him rest at times.
However, that won't stop him from pitching as deep into the season as possible.
"As far as this spring training," he added, "I definitely think we all realize there is still a lot of time to work in order to get to where you need to be and the end result is pitching into November."
