MLB

Harvey humbled as Mets fall to Cardinals

ST. LOUIS — To his fortune, Matt Harvey will have at least one more start in 2012, allowing him a chance to rinse the distaste from his mouth that came with last night’s performance.

Not that the Mets rookie was a disaster by any means, but after four straight dominant outings, it was clear he is capable of better.

“What I did tonight, in my opinion it was [garbage],” Harvey said after allowing three runs over five innings in the Mets’ 5-1 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. “I’m not happy about it.”

BOX SCORE

Lefty Jaime Garcia allowed one unearned run over 7 1/3 innings on a night the Mets had nine hits, but none for extra bases.

Harvey (3-4) surrendered three runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts. His final start of the season is expected to come next week against the Nationals at Citi Field, as he approaches an innings limit set by the team. Harvey has pitched 157 1/3 innings between Triple-A Buffalo and the majors this season, but there is a possibility he could receive an additional start if he has an abbreviated outing against the Nationals.

The Cardinals did their damage against Harvey in the second, scoring three runs on four straight singles and a sacrifice fly. Harvey rebounded with three solid innings before manager Terry Collins pulled him at 92 pitches.

“Figuring out that I didn’t quite have my location down earlier in the game and go to something else is something I should have done and picked up on in the second inning,” Harvey said. “I didn’t do that.”

As Harvey prepared to pitch last night, the Mets were welcoming two other young arms that could be integral pieces of the team’s future.

Jeurys Familia and Jenrry Mejia were recalled yesterday from Buffalo and will get an opportunity over this final month to showcase their ability, working both from the bullpen and starting rotation.

Familia made his major league debut last night by pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

“He’s got a live arm and he’s got good movement on the ball,” Collins said. “He pounded the strike zone and it was a great sign, his first outing, and I was really excited for him.”

Mejia still needs two to three days to recover from his last start for Buffalo, according to Collins, and likely won’t see action until this weekend against the Braves at Citi Field.

In the spring, there was thought Harvey and Familia might arrive to the Mets as a package deal. Harvey was promoted in late July and hasn’t disappointed. Familia was 9-9 with a 4.73 ERA in 28 starts for Buffalo.

“I feel excited for [Harvey] because he was good this year,” Familia said. “Everything he had to do with his fastball and change-up, he did. He had good command, he’s ready for the big leagues.”

Collins seemed intrigued with adding Familia’s 98-mph fastball to the bullpen. The manager said Familia has been told he also might receive a start before the season concludes.

Mejia, who pitched for the Mets in 2010 before undergoing Tommy John surgery that cost him most of last season, shuffled between the bullpen and starting rotation for Buffalo this season. In 30 minor league appearances this year, Mejia was 4-4 with a 3.59 ERA.

The Mets plan to use Mejia in the starting rotation after Harvey is shut down for the season.

But Collins said it’s still too early to determine what Mejia’s role will be with the Mets heading to spring training next year.

Mejia would prefer to be a starting pitcher.

“I like starting,” Mejia said. “I think it’s better for me, because every five days you pitch and I know what I have to do, but when I was in the bullpen, you never know when you go out there.”