By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Phoenix, AZ

Rookie right-hander Matt Harvey lived up to the hype of his major-league debut, striking out 11 to help the skidding New York Mets to a 3-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, in the opener of a four-game set at Chase Field.

Harvey, 23, set a club record for most strikeouts in a big league debut.

Harvey (1-0), who re-entered the draft as a junior at North Carolina and was selected seventh overall by the Mets in 2010, allowed just three hits and walked three in 5 1-3 shutout innings.

The 23-year-old Harvey, who was drafted out of high school in the third round by the Los Angeles Angels in 2007, but did not sign, was dazzling from the start as he struck out seven in the first three frames.

He then matched Tom Seaver's and Bill Denehy's franchise mark for most strikeouts in a major league debut strikeout of Upton in the fourth before setting the record in the fifth.

Harvey's strikeouts were the most in an MLB debut since June 8, 2010 when Washington's Stephen Strasburg fanned 14 against Pittsburgh.

Harvey threw more than 68 percent fastballs, but the Mets fireballing righty struggled with efficiency as his pitch count reaching 106 pitches over 5 1-3 frames.

Manager Terry Collins yanked Harvey with one out in the sixth, after a walk to Upton put runners on first and second with the Mets ahead at 3-0.

Fellow rookie Josh Edgin took over from Harvey with Arizona poised for a comeback with two men on base. Edgin got the final outs of the inning without a run scoring to preserve Harvey's scoreless debut.

Mets starter Harvey was not also sharp on the mound but also on the plate as he recorded a double and single in his first two at-bats.

Harvey became the first player in modern baseball history to strike out more than 10 and collect a pair of hits in his first MLB game.

In an effort to provide a comfort level of sorts for their prized pitcher, the Mets recalled Rob Johnson, who was his catcher at Triple-A Buffalo for most the season. It marked Johnson's first game with the parent club since 30.

Scott Hairston hit a two-run double in the first inning, part of a three-hit night for the Mets right fielder, while Andres Torres tripled and scored in the victors, who opened an 11-game road trek by halting a six-game losing skid.

Arizona starter Wade Miley (11-6), who was coming off his 15th win in 27 major-league appearances in his last time out, took the loss after allowing nine hits and three runs over 5 1-3 innings.

The Diamondbacks, who had won their previous home contests against the Mets, dropped their second straight overall following a five-game winning streak.

 

 

Matt Harvey Amazin Met in MLB Debut