Game #61: Cardinals 2, Mets 1

Undefeated no more. But at least he got the decision.

Matt Harvey's stellar effort was rewarded with his first loss of the year as the sleepwalking Mets fell to the Cardinals 2-1.

The Bad Stuff:

• Adam Wainwright owned the entire New York order like he owned Carlos Beltran in 2006 (as if the memories weren't painful enough), shutting out the Mets over seven four-hit innings. Wainwright improved to 10-3 on the season and saw his ERA drop to 2.18.
• In the few chances the Amazin's got with RISP, they hit 0-4 and stranded eight men.

The Good Stuff:

• Matt Harvey deserved far better, as he usually does. Harvey turned in his second straight seven-inning, one-run start, allowing five hits and a walk against seven strikeouts on 97 pitches.
• Marlon Byrd saved the Mets from being shut out by the Redbirds as he launched a one-out solo home run off St. Louis closer Edward Mujica in the 9th. Byrd's 10th shot of the year puts him one behind John Buck and Lucas Duda for the team lead.
• Byrd, Buck, and David Wright combined for all seven New York hits; Wright's three singles brought his average back up to .288.

Final Analysis:
Matt Harvey must feel like R.A. Dickey did in 2011: helpless. Were he pitching for any other team, #33 would have at least eight or nine wins. Instead, he'll settle for the second decision, and the first bad one, in his last 10 starts.

There isn't much left to say about the offense; it is what it is.

MM