MLB

Harvey outduels fading Halladay; Mets rip Phillies for third straight win

ON THE MONEY: Matt Harvey winds up during the Mets’ 7-2 win over the Phillies last night. The 24-year-old righty outdueled the Phillies’ Roy Halladay to lead the Mets to their third straight win and up his record to 2-0 this season. (Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA — The past stood no chance against the future.

Roy Halladay might be the top pitcher of the 21st century, with a Cy Young award in both leagues to support his case, but the whispers the Phillies right-hander is done will only continue after his latest debacle, last night against the Mets.

Meanwhile, Harvey-mania is spreading and threatening to become an epidemic. Matt Harvey has been that dominant for the Mets, with a little help from his friends.

“They are putting up runs and I’ve got to go out there and try to put up zeroes,” Harvey said after his seven scintillating innings led the Mets to a 7-2 victory at Citizens Bank Park.

Harvey (2-0) allowed one run on three hits with nine strikeouts and two walks as the Mets won their third straight. John Buck provided the offensive juice with a three-run homer in the second inning against Halladay, who was knocked out after failing to get an out in the fifth.

Harvey’s only fumble this season was arriving late to the clubhouse before a recent game, prompting manager Terry Collins to fine the pitcher $250. Collins told Harvey he could get the money back if he pitched seven shutout innings against the Phillies. Harvey came close, but missed reclaiming his cash.

“It’s in escrow, accruing interest,” Collins said, holding an envelope with the fine money. “He’s not going to get it today, but I’m not going to spend it.”

Harvey said he didn’t want something that wasn’t earned.

“[Collins] can take his wife to dinner or whatever,” Harvey said. “I think he was going to double it if I went nine innings, so I was trying.”

Harvey, who threw 110 pitches, hit 98 mph in the seventh inning. After striking out Laynce Nix on a 95-mph heater in the seventh, Harvey’s final act was to retire Humberto Quintero, leaving the Phillies hitless in their last three innings against the right-hander.

“I don’t think [Harvey] had his ‘A’ stuff tonight,” Buck said, noting he didn’t find his fastball until later in the game. “He has that ability to miss out over the plate and get good hitters to miss.”

Jimmy Rollins’ double leading off the fourth led to the Phillies’ only run against Harvey. In 14 innings this season, Harvey has allowed one run and four hits with 19 strikeouts and four walks.

Halladay (0-2) was brutal for a second straight start, lasting four-plus innings and allowing seven earned runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Once the best pitcher on the planet, Halladay, 35, appears cooked as he attempts to prove his once magical right arm has something left.

He lasted only 3 1/3 innings against the Braves last week, allowing five earned runs, and last night suffered his first loss against the Mets since July 16, 2001, when he was still pitching for the Blue Jays.

“I don’t want to face him all that much, but if you’re going to get him, you better get him when things aren’t right,” Collins said. “Because when he gets right, he can sail through a lineup. But that’s not the guy we know, for sure.

”I don’t know what the issue is, but I’m glad to get out of here without [Halladay] being as good as he can be.”

The Mets chased Halladay in the fifth, adding a run on David Wright’s RBI single to take a 5-1 lead. Daniel Murphy doubled leading off the inning and scored on Wright’s single before Ike Davis singled, ending Halladay’s night. Ruben Tejada delivered a two-run single against Chad Durbin later in the inning, with both of the runs charged to Halladay.

Buck continued his torrid start with a three-run homer in the second that gave the Mets a 3-0 lead. The homer was Buck’s third of the season, and his 12 RBIs are the most on the Mets this season.

Marlon Byrd doubled to begin the rally and Lucas Duda was hit by a pitch before Buck hit a no-doubter to right field.