HARVEY SHELLED BY ’STROS IN RETURN
HOUSTON — After being slapped around in what emerged as the shortest outing of your career, you grab onto anything you can for a positive.
That’s what Matt Harvey did after lasting just two innings and absorbing the loss in the Mets’ 12-8 manhandling by the Astros in Game 1 of the day-night doubleheader at Minute Maid Park, this city’s first sporting event after Hurricane Harvey.
“Obviously there’s some bad habits mechanically that I’ve continuously brought into outings,” said Harvey, abused for eight hits and seven earned runs in an effort even shorter than the 2 2/3 innings at Washington May 19 last year. “It’s frustrating because going through the rehab process and coming back from multiple injuries you feel like you can … hit your spots and do everything right.” Then you still get beat up. Now the good news. “I went back looked at video, every pitch in today’s start and I think I found what the bad habit is, realized what that is and that’s the positive I take,” said Harvey, who made his first start for the Mets since June 14, before he was placed on the disabled list for a stress injury to the scapula bone in his right shoulder.
But Harvey, who said his latest issue is relying too much on his legs which, in part, causes a lower arm slot, also sought other positives. He is healthy. And he is confident for the future.
“I’m fully confident within the next start or the start after that or whatever, by the end of this season I’ll be comfortable on the mound,” Harvey said. “There’s no doubt that by the end of this season I will do the same.
“I don’t feel like I’m far away at all.”
Manager Terry Collins stressed the positives — really, what did he have? — amid the bad.
“I thought his delivery was good. Got to get his command down,” Collins said. “But step one, it was just nice to see him back out there.
“Now it’s about getting him back in shape and getting him on the mound and making his pitches work for him. Having him locate offspeed stuff a little better. Those things are key when you haven’t pitched in four months,” Collins said.
Harvey reached 94 mph during his 70-pitch effort.
“I didn’t expect 97. I thought he’d throw about as hard as he threw,” Collins said. “As long as he’s healthy we’re moving forward.”
Harvey and the Mets were just part of the backdrop of the day as the city tries to lift itself up from the horrors unleashed by nature. The game was seen as a shot in the arm for a city’s morale. A moment of silence was observed before each game. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner threw out the first pitch then headed to the George R. Brown Convention Center, which has served as a shelter.
“It is highly significant for the city of Houston after the hell of a week we’ve got through,” Turner said. “People in the city, people in the region need something to cheer for. …The quicker the city gets back on its feet the better.