Jon Lester had the postseason experience, but last night our Dark Knight arose to the occasion and was better than the hype.
Matt Harvey flirted with a perfect game into the fifth inning and pitched into the eighth inning, striking out nine while limiting the Cubs to just two runs on four hits. Meanwhile, Lester gave up solo home runs to Daniel Murphy and Travis d’Arnaud among eight hits over 6 2/3 innings en route to his fifth career postseason loss. (At least one baseball columnist suggested that the Cubs might want to stop payment on Lester’s next paycheck.)
It’s good to be on top.
Tonight, the Mets hitters will face a tougher challenge in Jake Arrieta, while Terry Collins will likely have to rely on his bullpen more extensively with Noah Syndergaard pitching on short rest after extended relief work in NLDS Game 5.
Let’s go Mets!
I didn’t like Collins sending Harvey out there to pitch the 8th, after he was obviously struggling a bit with his command, was already over 90 pitches, and had a fresh bullpen waiting behind him. (Addison Reed must be getting very bored out there.)
I did like starting Cuddyer at first base instead of Duda, though. And Wright looks more or less lost at the plate. Thank God for Murphy and Granderson.
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I was fine with sending Harvey out for the 8th because I have minimal confidence in Reed & Clippard at this point. If I had to go to a reliever before Familia, it would be Colon.
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