PHILADELPHIA — By one measure, Ike Davis is actually off to a great start for the Mets.
“I have more hits than last year at this time,” Davis said last night before sitting against Phillies lefty Cliff Lee in the Mets’ 8-3 loss at Citizens Bank Park.
Davis, in a 4-for-27 (.148) rut to start the season, only had two hits through eight games last year. But that only underscores how badly Davis struggled in the first half last season, which included a near demotion to Triple-A in May.
Davis doesn’t see any comparison between one rough week and his struggles in April and May of 2012.
“I feel great, I’m seeing it great and I swung at one bad pitch [Monday] and that was basically it,” Davis said. “I’m fouling back a lot of pitches I should hit. Once I actually start hitting those pitches instead of fouling them back, that’s when I start to get hot.”
Davis needs to start using the whole field, according to manager Terry Collins.
“The one thing that made him very good in spring training was the fact he went to left field and left-center so much,” Collins said. “We’ve got to get him back to doing that, because that makes him dangerous when he can hit the ball the other way.”
* Collins said he would like to avoid using Lucas Duda at first base when Davis doesn’t play. Justin Turner (1-for-4) started at first, with Duda (1-for-2) remaining in left field.
“The one game in spring training where we said, ‘You’re going to play first base,’ [Duda] was all excited,” Collins said. “I don’t want him to get that excited, because he’s going to be our left fielder. We’ve got a first baseman here.”
* Before Dillon Gee surrendered homers to Ryan Howard, Michael Young and John Mayberry Jr., in the third, Johan Santana was the last Mets pitcher to allow three home runs in the same inning. Santana did so last June 8 at Yankee Stadium — his first appearance following his no-hitter against the Cardinals.
* Catcher John Buck, who started in the cleanup spot and leads the Mets with four homers and 14 RBIs, is receiving strong reviews from the manager for his handling of the pitching staff.
“One of the things that has helped is he’s been in this division,” Collins said. “He spent two years in this division, so he knows the Phillies and knows the Marlins and certainly has a game plan. And I think it’s helped not only our starters, but our relievers.”
* Zack Wheeler labored again in his second start for Triple-A Las Vegas. The right-hander went 5 1/3 innings at Fresno, allowing four runs (one earned) on eight hits and three walks, striking out six and throwing 63 of 92 pitches for strikes. This after he lasted just 3 1/3 innings last week, allowing two earned runs on three hits and three walks.
* With his gem Monday night, Matt Harvey became the second pitcher in franchise history to open a season with consecutive starts of at least seven innings with three hits or fewer allowed. Nolan Ryan opened the 1970 season with three straight such performances for the Mets.