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 Harvey, 20 months removed from Tommy John surgery on his right
elbow, snapped out of a four-start slump by throwing seven shutout
innings Tuesday and Parnell recorded the final five outs for his
first save since his own right elbow ligament replacement operation
as the Mets edged the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 at Citi Field.
"We're sitting there in the ninth inning today and (pitching coach)
Dan (Warthen) and I are talking (and saying) this night's going to
come down to two big huge keys: Matt Harvey's back and Bobby
Parnell's back," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "If this
continues, this is going to change the dynamics of what we've got to
face here in the next three months."
The Mets (36-30) finished 5-3 on the homestand -- which began June 9
with New York getting no-hit by San Francisco Giants rookie
right-hander Chris Heston -- to extend their National League East
lead over the Washington Nationals to 1 1/2 games.
Among the first four wins on the homestand for the Mets were two
walk-offs as well as a comeback from a five-run deficit on Sunday
against the Atlanta Braves. It appeared as if Tuesday's victory
would be stress-free when Harvey -- who had a 1.98 ERA in his first
eight starts before recording a 7.20 ERA in his next four starts
leading up to Tuesday -- exited with a 3-0 lead after allowing just
four hits, walking none and striking out six.
The fiery, attention-seeking Harvey (7-4) punctuated his final out
of the evening by winding up his right arm and pumping it furiously.
"I've been around this guy for three years," Collins said. "He was
focused tonight. He was going to pitch a good game tonight."
But the Mets' piecemeal bullpen -- which lacked an eighth-inning
set-up man all season and was missing right-handed closer Jeurys
Familia on Tuesday because he threw 48 pitches over 2 2/3 innings
the previous two days -- nearly blew the lead in the eighth.
Right-hander Carlos Torres issued a leadoff walk to second baseman
Ryan Goins before giving up singles to center fielder Kevin Pillar
and shortstop Jose Reyes.
Third base coach Luis Rivera held up Goins on Reyes' single, but
Pillar didn't see the stop sign and raced almost all the way to
third, where he was tagged out by first baseman Lucas Duda.
"We gave them an out right there where we really had them on the
ropes," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.
Torres then walked third baseman Josh Donaldson to load the bases
for right fielder Jose Bautista and force Collins to bring in
Parnell. The Mets' former closer underwent Tommy John surgery on
April 8, 2014, and posted an 11.57 ERA and allowed 36 baserunners
over 14 minor league innings during 15 rehab appearances prior to
being activated from the disabled list last Thursday.
"Sometimes to swim you've got to jump in the deep end, right?"
Parnell said.
Parnell retired Bautista on a sacrifice fly and gave up an RBI
single to first baseman Edwin Encarnacion before he struck out left
fielder Chris Colabello to end the threat. Parnell then threw a
perfect ninth to close out his first save since July 30, 2013.
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"That was definitely a fun matchup, obviously going through what we
did last year and parts of this year with him," Harvey said. "That
was a big save for him and a big win for us."
Parnell's mound response to his final out was as understated as
Harvey's was boisterous. As a fly ball off the bat of Goins landed
in the glove of left fielder Darrell Ceciliani, Parnell stood still
for several seconds gazing out at Ceciliani before turning and
exchanging handshakes with catcher Travis d'Arnaud.
"Saw the ball was a catchable ball and finally had some weight off
my shoulders," Parnell said.
Third baseman Ruben Tejada had an RBI single immediately before
Harvey laced an RBI double in the second inning. Shortstop Wilmer
Flores hit a sacrifice fly in the third.
Encarnacion had two hits for the Blue Jays (34-32), who were swept
in the two-game interleague series after entering Monday with an
11-game winning streak. Toronto scored 88 runs in the winning streak
but just five runs against the Mets.
"When you run into good pitching -- I don't care how good your
hitting is, that's what happens sometimes," Gibbons said. "That's
some great pitching."
Right-hander Scott Copeland took the loss after giving up the three
runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out one over four
innings.
NOTES: The game began on time despite a late-afternoon downpour. ...
New York manager Terry Collins said he likely would utilize OFs
Michael Cuddyer and Curtis Granderson at designated hitter when the
Mets and Blue Jays play in Toronto on Wednesday and Thursday. ...
Collins said RHP Rafael Montero (right rotator cuff inflammation) is
still feeling shoulder stiffness. ... Blue Jays manager John Gibbons
said it was unlikely RHP Aaron Sanchez, who has missed his last two
turns with a lat injury, would return from the disabled list in time
to start against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. ... The Mets are
the only team Blue Jays LHP Mark Buehrle has not beaten. Buehrle
didn't factor into the decision in the Mets' 4-3, 11-inning win
Monday.
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