Remembering Mets History (2013) Matt Harvey Flirts With a Perfect Game & Ks 12 In a Combined One Hitter

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013: It was an exciting night at Citi Field, as young phenom, Matt Harvey took the mound for Terry Collins' New York Mets (13-16). 

Entering tonight's game, Matt Harvey was 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA, 46 strikeouts & 12 walks in 40.1 innings pitched. Harvey had only allowed more than one run in one of his first six starts. The excitement Harvey brought to Citi Field was being compared to that of Dwight Gooden's almost 30 years ago.

On this night 23,394 fans showed up at on a chilly night in Queens. as the Mets hosted Robin Ventura's Chicago White Sox (13-18).

Ventura Manager Trivia: Fomer Mets & White Sox player, Robin Ventura managed the Sox from 2012-2016 going 375-435 overall with one winning season, coming in his first year (85-77).

The Bloody Nose Game: Matt Harvey took the mound, well prepared on three extra days of rest. Although he battled a bloody nose in the 1st inning, he was almost perfect in his pitching. 

In the top of the 1st, Harvey retired the side in order ending with a strike out of Alex Rios. In the top of the 2nd, after a fly ball out Matt struck out Connor Gillaspie & Alex Ramirez.

Harvey Day: There was excitement & a loud ovation with every out of the night as the fans were totally locked in. They stood when a White Sox batter had two strikes screaming for the strike out. Tonight became known as "Harvey Day"

In the top of the 3rd, Ruben Tejada made a fine play in the hole, on Tyler Flowers grounder, throwing him out for the first out. 

In the top of the 4th, David Wright helped out with a fine fielding play at third base, saving a hit. 

Thru the first four innings, the Sox still hadn't had a hit or a base runner. 

In the top of the 5th, Harvey retired Adam Dunn on a grounder, struck out Connor Gillaspie for the second time, then had Alexi Ramierz ground out for the third out. He now had a perfect game thru five.

In the top of the 6th, Harvey struck out Tyler Flowers then got a fly ball out & struck out Hector Santiago for his eighth K of the night, ending the inning with a perfect game thru six. Harvey had only thrown 70 pitches thru the first six innings.

In the 7th, Harvey struck out Alejandro De Aza for the second time to start the inning. Then former Met, Jeff Keppinger grounded out to Ruben Tejada at short. 

Next Alex Rios drew the first three ball count of the night. He then hit a ball in the hole to the right side of Ruben Tejada, although he made a fine play & good throw but it wasn't enough to throw out Rios as he collected an infield hit spoiling the bid for the perfect game. 

The Citi Field crowd gave Matt Harvey a standing ovation. The game continued & Harvey struck out Adam Dunn to end the inning. 

In the 8th, Harvey retired the side in order, now flirting with a one hit-shut out.

In the 9th, Harvey came out of the dug out to the delight of the Citi crowd. He got Dewayne Wise to fly out to right field, then struck out Jordan Danks & Alejandro De Aza, for the third time, getting his strike out total to 12.

Harvey K Trivia: The 12 strike outs would be Harvey's second highest game total on the season. On June 18th, he would strike out 13 in the first game of a double header at Atlanta.

Harvey went nine innings, allowing no runs on one hit, while striking out 12 & walking no one, lowering his ERA to 1.28.

Quotes- Matt Harvey: "I was having fun, anytime you go out there & are able to pitch like that & get outs, it becomes a lot of fun".

Unfortunately, the Mets offense was also shut down by the White Sox pitchers, Hector Santiago
pitched seven scoreless innings allowing four hits. Matt Lindstrom pitched a scoreless 8th inning & Nate Jones a scoreless 9th. The game went to extra innings scoreless.

In the top of the 10th, Bobby Parnell took the mound for the Mets retiring the side in order with a pair of strike outs of his own, to end the inning. 

In the bottom of the 10th, Nate Jones walked Ike Davis to start out the inning. Juan Lagares laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Davis to second. 

Walk Off Hit: Next up, Queens born Met Mike Baxter came in to pinch hit. Baxter delivered with a single to right field, bringing in Davis with the walk off game's winning run.

Mets One Hit Trivia: Matt Harvey & Bobby Parnell combined for the 38th one hitter thrown by Mets pitchers in franchise history. The previous season R.A. Dickey had thrown two complete game one hitters.