Happy for Harvey
Callaway congratulates former Amazin’s ace on strong Cincy debut
PHILADELPHIA — Matt Harvey’s solid first start for his new team went over big with his former manager.
After the right-hander pitched four shutout innings for the Reds against the Dodgers on Friday, allowing only one hit, Mickey Callaway says he sent a Harvey a text message to congratulate him.
“That was real good,” Callaway said before the Mets’ scheduled clash with the Phillies on Saturday was rained out. “I sent him a text and said, ‘Way to go.’ I am pulling for him.”
Harvey was traded to the Reds on Tuesday for catcher Devin Mesoraco, who hit a ninth-inning homer for the Mets in their 3-1 victory over the Phillies. The hit was Mesoraco’s first since joining the Mets. Callaway indicated Yoenis
Cespedes will likely receive a day off in the upcoming Blue Jays series at Citi Field, allowing him to rest his right quadriceps. The Mets are off Monday and Thursday, meaning Cespedes would get a two-day break by sitting out one of the games against the Blue Jays. Jay Bruce and his wife Hannah welcomed their second child, a son Maxwell, on Friday. David Wright and his wife Molly welcomed their second child, a daugh- ter Madison. Bruce remains on the paternity list and is expected to rejoin the Mets on Tuesday. Jerry
Blevins is awaiting paternity leave — his wife is due Tuesday with the couple’s first child.
Mesoraco is “making it look easy” behind the plate, according to Callaway, as he handles the Mets pitching staff.
“You watch him behind the plate and he’s really leading the pitcher,” Callaway said. “He’s really emphatic where he wants the ball with his glove, his target and he’s got a lot of energy back there and that makes pitchers feel comfortable.” Saturday would have been Mesoraco’s third straight start.
Buddy Baumann was eligible to pitch from the bullpen after serving a one-game suspension Friday for his role in a brawl between the Padres and Rockies last month. The lefty Baumann had been designated for assignment by the Padres before serving his suspension.
Michael Conforto became the third player in team history to hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth inning of a 1-0 game with his two-run blast Friday night against Hector Neris. Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duda are the other players who did it.