Remembering Mets History (2013) Matt Harvey Ks 12 In An Almost Perfect Game

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013: It was an exciting night at Citi Field, as young phenom, Matt Harvey took the mound for Terry Collins' New York Mets (13-16). 

Entering tonight's game, Matt Harvey was 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA, with 46 strikeouts & 12 walks in 40.1 innings pitched. Harvey had only allowed more than one run in one of his first six starts. The excitement Harvey brought to Citi Field was being compared to that of Dwight Gooden's almost 30 years ago.

Tonight, the Mets hosted the Chicago White Sox (13-18) managed by an old Mets hero, from the 2000 NL pennant team- Robin Ventura. 23,394 fans showed up at on a chilly night in Queens.

Matt Harvey took the mound, well prepared on three extra days of rest. Although he battled a
bloody nose in the 1st inning, he was almost perfect in his pitching. He retired the side in order in the 1st inning, ending with a strike out of Alex Rios. In the 2nd, he struck out Connor Gillaspe & Alex Ramirez.

There was excitement & a loud ovation with every out of the night, as the fans were totally locked in. They stood when a White Sox batter had, two strikes screaming for a strike out, as tonight became known as "Harvey Day"

In the 3rd, Ruben Tejada made a fine play in the hole, nabbing Tyler Flowers. In the 4th, David Wright helped out with a fine fielding play at third base, saving a hit. Harvey then struck out Gillaspe again who was one of four White Sox to strike out multiple times on the night.

In the 5th, the Sox still hadn't gotten a hit, or a base runner. Harvey retired the side in order once again, adding his fifth strike out victim of the night. In the 6th, he struck out two more, totaling eight on the night. 

In the 7th, Harvey struck out Alejandro De Aza to start the inning.

 Then former Met, Jeff Keppinger grounded out to Tejada at short. Alex Rio stepped in &
collected an infield hit to short, spoiling the bid for a perfect game. Ruben Tejada made a fine play, almost throwing out Rios, but he beat it out by a nose

The Citi Field crowd gave Matt Harvey a standing ovation. The game continued & he struck out Adam Dunn to end the inning. In the 8th, Harvey retired the side in order. 

In the 9th, Harvey came out of the dug out to the delight of the Citi crowd. He got Dewayne Wise to fly out to right field, he then struck out Jordan Danks & De Aza, getting his strike out total to 12.

Trivia: The 12 strike outs would be Harvey's second highest game total on the season. On June 18th, he would strike out 13 in the first game of a double header at Atlanta.

Harvey pitched the 38th one hitter in Mets history. He went nine innings, allowing no runs on one hit, while striking out 12 & walking no one, lowering his ERA to 1.28.

Quotes- Matt Harvey: "I was having fun, anytime you go out there & are able to pitch like that & get outs, it becomes a lot of fun".

Unfortunately, the Mets offense was also shut down by Sox pitchers, Hector Santiago (seven innings) Matt Lindstrom (one inning).

In extra innings, Bobby Parnell took the mound in the 10th inning, he retired the side in order with a pair of strike outs to end the inning. 

In the bottom frame, Nate Jones took the mound for Chicago & walked Ike Davis to start out the inning. Juan Lagares laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Davis. 

Next, Queens born Mike Baxter came in to pinch hit, he singled to right field, bringing in Davis with the walk off winning run.