NLCS Game 1: Matt Harvey propels Mets over Cubs with dominant start
For a man supposedly on an innings limit, New York Mets ace Matt Harvey doesn’t look tired. The 26-year-old turned in a fantastic start during a 4-2 win against the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the NLCS.
Harvey was exceptional early. He had a perfect game through four innings before hitting Anthony Rizzo with a pitch. While the Cubs were able to tie things up, Harvey remained strong as the game went on.
Even a line drive to the pitching shoulder couldn’t throw Harvey off his game. He remained in the contest following the play, and managed to keep the Cubs off the board for the rest of the frame, plus an additional two innings.
Combine that with some timely hitting, and the Mets came away with a Game 1 victory.
• Matt Harvey’s usage during the postseason has been a bit of a question, but he looked great Saturday. Through 7 2/3 innings, Harvey allowed just one run on three hits. He struck out nine, and battled out of a big jam during his final inning. The Mets needed a fantastic start out of Harvey, and they got it.
• Daniel Murphy’s transformation into Barry Bonds is nearly complete. Murphy came through again for New York. In the first inning, he gave the team an early lead with a solo shot. It was Murphy’s fourth home run this postseason.
• This could go to Curtis Granderson for giving the Mets a lead in the fifth inning, but we’re going to give it to Travis d’Arnaud. He and Juan Lagares were the only Mets to pick up more than one hit during the game, and d’Arnaud managed a huge solo home run in the sixth to extend the Mets’ lead.
• This is tough. Jon Lester didn’t pitch a poor game, but he’ll find up taking the loss. The lefty was tagged by Murphy early, and then gave up the go-ahead hit to Granderson. Given how dominant Harvey looked on the mound, that was all the Mets needed. Again, Lester wasn’t bad, but he went up against a nearly unstoppable force.
• Despite the loss, this really wasn’t a bad game for the Cubs. Starlin Castro was thrown out at the plate during a pivotal play, but he also delivered a game-tying RBI double. The Cubs couldn’t touch Harvey at the plate, but none of them had an embarrassing day.
• Yoenis Cespedes didn’t look great at the plate during the contest. The outfielder went 0-for-4, with two strikeouts. Cespedes has already struck out 10 times during the postseason.
After Starlin Castro tied things up with a double, things were looking scary for New York. On a Javier Baez single to left, Castro decided to test Yoenis Cespedes’ arm. He chose … poorly. Cespedes nailed Castro at the plate, preventing the Cubs from picking up a 2-1 lead. Cespedes may be struggling at the plate, but his arm is still as dangerous as ever.
The Mets are winning even though their big bats are slumping at the plate.
Kyle Schwarber, on the other hand:
• Harvey not only dominating, but pitching into the eighth inning. There are still some questions about whether Harvey is actually on an innings limit, but it appears he’s just going to give the Mets everything in pursuit of a World Series championship. The Mets could rest him for the remainder of the series, but that just doesn’t seem likely at this point.
• The focus will also turn to Cubs ace Jake Arrieta. Arrieta has been so fantastic down the stretch, and now he’ll be tasked with evening the series.
Game 2 will take place Sunday, October 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The contest will be aired on TBS. Jake Arrieta (22-6, 1.77) will take on Noah Syndergaard (9-7, 3.24) as the Cubs look to even the series.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
