Matt Harvey Sluggish In Mets' 7-4 Loss To Marlins
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JUPITER (CBSMiami/AP) — The Miami Marlins had another solid spring outing on Wednesday.
Matt Harvey was far from perfect in his second spring training outing for the New York Mets.
After getting six straight outs last week in his first appearance following elbow surgery, the Mets ace allowed two runs and six hits over 2 2-3 innings Wednesday in a 7-4 loss to the Miami Marlins.
Ichiro Suzuki singled in a run in the second inning, and Giancarlo Stanton hit an RBI double in the third on Harvey's final pitch,
Harvey struck out two and walked one, extending his pitch count to about 48. The right-hander pitched two perfect innings Friday against Detroit in his first appearance against opposing batters since Aug. 24, 2013. He had elbow ligament-replacement surgery that Oct. 22.
Harvey threw more breaking balls than in his first outing, and left some pitches up in the strike zone. Stanton's double, his first extra-base hit this year, hopped over the wall in left-center.
"He's so big and strong that even though I got it in on him he was still able to get it out to the warning track," Harvey said. "He's making $300 million for a reason."
Michael Morse singled leading off the second, advanced on Martin Prado's single and when Ichiro Suzuki pulled a ball through the right side of the infield.
New York scored twice in the first off Henderson Alvarez. Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit an RBI double over Suzuki in center and scored on Ruben Tejada's double to left.
Miami scored five runs in the seventh against Scott Rice and Dillon Gee. Don Kelly had a two-ruin single.
Christian Yelich had hits in both at-bats, a day after going 3-for-3.
STARTING TIME
Marlins: Alvarez, Miami's likely opening-day starter, gave up two runs and four hits in three innings, struck out four and walked none. He allowed one hit over his final two innings.
"I was too rushed," he said through a translator. "I was very accelerated and I was leaving my pitches up, but I calmed down after that."
He thew a slow curveball the stadium scoreboard clocked at 59 mph and said coaches enjoy watching that pitch.
"Everybody, even the fans, likes it," Alvarez said.
Mets: Jacob deGrom gets his second start of spring training Thursday. The NL Rookie of the Year allowed one run in three innings against Atlanta in his first outing.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria planned to make the trip to Fort Myers on Thursday and play against Minnesota. Hechavarria hasn't played in a game since Thursday because of a tired shoulder.
Mets reliever Josh Edgin's returned to New York for an MRI on his left elbow.
OZUNA STRUGGLES
Marlins manager Mike Redmond isn't concerned about center fielder Marcell Ozuna's 1-for-12 start in large part because he's seen it before. Ozuna went 11 for 62 (.177) in spring training last year, then played in 153 games for the Marlins. "Some guys are really good spring training players and some guys aren't," Redmond said.
MORE MORSE
Redmond wants to give free agent signee Michael Morse, an outfielder for most of his career, as much work at first base as possible during spring training. "He looks good over there. Obviously. it's a huge target for an infielder to throw to," Redmond said.
UP NEXT
Miami will travel across the state, starting Jarred Cosart against Phil Hughes at Minnesota in Fort Myers.
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