Giants Beat Mets; Matt Harvey Loses

Matt Harvey got his second big league start Tuesday night against the Giants. He pitched well again, but still came away with his first loss.

The Mets got on the board in the second against Tim Lincecum. Scott Hairston singled and Justin Turner hit a double to left to score Hairston and take a 1-0 lead.

Harvey learned in the bottom of the inning all about how the Mets defense can cost you games. A single, double and walk loaded the bases with no outs. Justin Christian hit a comebacker and Harvey flipped to Josh Thole for the first out. Bases still loaded, Brandon Crawford hit a certain double play ball to second that should have gotten Harvey out of the inning unscathed. However after getting the out at second, Ruben Tejada launched a wild throw over Ike Davis’s head. Two runs came around to score to give the Giants a 2-1 lead.

Ryan Theriot led off the sixth with a double. Melky Cabrera bunted for a hit, putting runners on first and third with no outs. Harvey walked Buster Posey to load the bases. Marco Scutaro then grounded into a double play, but a run scored to make it 3-1.

In the seventh the Mets loaded the bases with one out, but Thole lined out and David Wright, pinch hitting for Harvey after getting the night off, struck out.

Harvey went six innings, allowing three runs (two earned), on just four hits. He did walk three batters to go along with seven strikeouts. He twice pitched himself into bases loaded trouble, but both times he was able to recover and get the ground balls he needed to help him out.  Of course, the defense let him down the first time. But Harvey deserves credit for keeping his poise while his back was up against the wall.

Ramon Ramirez allowed a run in the eighth as the Mets went on to lose 4-1 to end a rotten July on a down note.