Matt Harvey Solid, Mets Still Lose to Rockies

Matt Harvey continues to show that he is  major league pitcher and will play a huge role for the Mets in 2013 and beyond. The Mets bullpen, though, is strictly bush league, as it cost the Mets yet another game.

The Mets grabbed the lead in the first — Ruben Tejada doubled, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly by Scott Hairston.

The Rockies tied the score at one with a sacrifice fly of their own in the fourth. Once again Harvey showed his toughness — the Rockies had runners on second and third with no outs and could plate only the one run, with Harvey bearing down and getting the other two outs in strikeouts.

Harvey was lifted after six innings and 102 pitches. He allowed one run on three hits, struck out nine and walked two. His ERA stands at 2.75. Harvey also had two more hits and is now batting .455 (five for 11)!

The bullpen, of course, quickly gave the lead to the Rockies. Wilin Rosario led off the seventh against Ramon Ramirez with a home run to make it a 2-1 game. Tyler Colvin doubled, moved to third and scored on a suicide squeeze to make it 3-1.

With two outs in the eighth Hairston doubled off the wall in left. Ike Davis singled him home to cut the lead to 3-2.

However Frank Francisco could not keep the game close. Colvin singled, stole second and advanced to third when Kelly Shoppach’s throw sailed into center field. He scored when Chris Nelson singled to make it 4-2. Francisco balked to move Nelson to second. Josh Rutledge doubled to bring home Nelson.

Mets lose 5-2, dropping their fourth straight, and are now 10 games under .500.