MLB

Harvey’s sixth-inning struggles lead to Mets’ loss against Marlins

MIAMI — Matt Harvey’s leisurely afternoon of hooking Marlins turned into a sixth-inning Sharknado.

The Mets ace took a one-hit shutout into the sixth Thursday, but departed in a three-run hole after getting only two outs in the inning. That letdown, coupled with missed scoring chances early, sent the Mets to a 3-0 loss at Marlins Park.

Harvey (8-3) lasted only 5 ²/₃ innings, allowing three runs on five hits with eight strikeouts. The right-hander has lasted less than six innings only three times this season, all of them against the Marlins.

“They kept hanging around and did like we do against any other ace on the mound: You wait them out,” Marlon Byrd said. “Once you get that chance to score runs, you just keep continuing the inning as long as you can.”

Harvey’s scoreless fifth made it 20 straight innings without allowing an earned run since the All-Star break, but Logan Morrison’s RBI single in the sixth, on Harvey’s 100th pitch, ended the streak.

Later in the inning, Harvey engaged in a nine-pitch showdown with Donovan Solano that ended with the rookie delivering a two-run single that made it 3-0.

“When I tried to go away, the ball was coming back over the middle and it came up a little bit and they were able to put the ball in play,” Harvey said. “Things were fine until the sixth inning and then my mistakes were paid for.”

Juan Pierre’s pinch-hit single leading off the inning started the rally before Christian Yelich singled. Harvey got two outs before Morrison singled in two runs. Ed Lucas was then hit by a pitch and Solano delivered the two-run single.

The Mets (48-58) finished with a split of the four-game series and were 3-5 on a road trip that began Friday in Washington.

Harvey’s only hit allowed through five innings was pitcher Tom Koehler’s single with two outs in the third. Giancarlo Stanton reached on Omar Quintanilla’s throwing error in the fourth, but Harvey then retired the next five batters he faced.

Harvey allowed only an unearned run over seven innings against the Nationals in the second game of a doubleheader on Friday, but received a no-decision in the 2-1 loss.

“He certainly deserves a better fate than what he’s had,” manager Terry Collins said. “He’s pitched great, we just haven’t scored him any runs.”

Ike Davis finished 0-for-2 with two walks and left five runners on base, killing two early threats for the Mets, who averaged only 2.1 runs over the final seven games of the road trip. Koehler’s six shutout innings carried the Marlins Thursday.

Davis killed a rally in the first inning by striking out with runners on first and second with two outs. In the third he came to the plate with the bases loaded and popped out.

In the fifth, Jake Marisnick made a diving catch in center on Byrd’s line drive, and David Wright was thrown out retreating to first base to end the inning.

“We had the opportunities, we’re just not driving runs in,” Collins said. “We have to figure out what we’re doing.”

Harvey has a 3.52 ERA in four starts against the Marlins this year. Against all other opponents he has posted a 1.97 ERA.

“It’s not like I take this start or this team any different than any other team,” he said. “They are a team that this year just happens to squeak out some runs and I’m not going to change my approach or do anything differently.”