NEW YORK _ What unfolded over Matt Harvey's five innings against the Reds on Thursday night would not be mistaken for vintage dominance. He fell behind in counts and generated only a few swings-and- misses. His fastball registered higher than 94 miles per hour just once, and even then it came against the opposing pitcher. But after a disastrous return from the disabled list _ and a mini-controversy over what would follow _ Harvey's outing represented clear progress.
"That's what I want to see, I want to see a step forward," manager Terry Collins said before the Mets' 7-2 win at Citi Field. "I want to see him better. I want to see Matt better than he was last time."
To be sure, it was a low standard given Harvey's last outing, a debacle against the Astros on Saturday in which he was torched for seven runs on eight hits in a career-low two innings. But Harvey (5-4, 5.82 ERA) exceeded those modest expectations, holding the Reds to two runs on five hits in five innings with a walk and a strikeout.
Cleanup man Brandon Nimmo homered twice and knocked in three runs, helping Harvey to his first victory since May 28.
Harvey insisted he wasn't far from getting back to form. Then, he pushed the Mets to pitch on Wednesday even though he'd be on short rest. Initially, the Mets consented to the unorthodox idea, insisting he would be at no physical risk after throwing just 70 pitches in his previous outing.
But the Mets changed course late Tuesday.
In just his second start since landing on the DL in June with a stress injury to his shoulder, Harvey surrendered a run in each of his first two innings. Once more, he looked like a pitcher coming off surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, his fastball lacking his signature velocity.
But Harvey made the best of improved command of his diminished arsenal, stringing together three scoreless frames to finish off his outing. At 74 pitches, Collins pinch hit for Harvey when his spot in the order came up in the fifth.
"He's had to rally reach down inside and ask his mind to do things that came second nature to him at one time," Collins said before the game. "It's been hard for him. When you're as good as he was and to have to come down a level and fight your way back, sometimes it can be hard mentally. Certainly Matt is doing the best he can to deal with it."
