By R.L. Bynum
Matt Harvey got the sort of start he can build on as he tries to put together a bounce-back season with the Baltimore Orioles.
He gave up six hits and two earned runs in 4⅔ innings, but he struck out four and overcame some bad luck as the Orioles won at Boston on Saturday 4–2 on their way to sweeping the three-game series.
“Overall, I think it was a solid first start,” Harvey said Saturday. “Just try and build off that next time. Today was one of those days where I really had to dig deep and get out of a few long innings. Those are going to be a little more taxing.”
Harvey got strikes for 52 of his 86 pitches (60%) with 15 strikes looking and five strikes swinging. That was his most pitches in a game since throwing 92 on July 18, 2019, for the Angels in a 6–2 loss to Houston.
He’s not the power pitcher of past years and showed more craftiness against the Red Sox.
“Being able to throw the two-seamer in, threw a couple away. Attacking the zone, that’s the biggest thing, especially for me,” Harvey said. “Mixing things up. Going in, going out. Changing some eye levels. And just throwing all pitches and not being predictable. That’s the biggest thing that we worked on during the spring and was kind of able to transfer over to today.”
Growing up in Connecticut, it was special for Harvey pitching in Fenway Park for the first time. He had plenty of family members and friends in the stands for the game.
Colorado’s Daniel Bard has pitched two one-hit, scoreless innings in two appearances, converting his only save chance. In both appearances, he gave up one hit, one walk and struck out two. He loaded the bases Thursday before getting the save in an 8–5 Opening Day victory against the Dodgers. His scoreless inning Saturday came with the Rockies trailing in a 6–5 loss.
Colin Moran drove in his first runs of the season with a two-run sixth-inning home run into the left-field bleachers at Wrigley Field, aided by a stiff wind going out, in Pittsburgh’s 4–3 Sunday loss to Chicago. He added a double in the eighth inning, went 2 for 4 and is hitting .300 through three games.
Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings had Sunday off but went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI in the Pirates’ Opening Day 5–3 victory Thursday over Chicago. He was 0 for 3 with a strikeout Saturday.
Through three games, Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager is 3 for 12 with a run and a walk.
Andrew Miller pitched an inning for St. Louis in the Cardinals’ Saturday and Sunday losses at Cincinnati. He gave up three hits and one earned run in Saturday’s 9–6 loss and pitched a one-two-three eighth inning in Sunday’s 12–1 defeat.
Trent Thornton, who missed out on making Toronto’s starting rotation, made his season debut Sunday in Toronto’s 3–1 road victory against the Yankees, giving up one run on two hits with one walk in 1⅓ innings.
Arizona right-handed pitcher Zac Gallen is on the 10-day injured list as he recovers from a hairline fracture in his right forearm. He threw a 39-pitch bullpen session Wednesday with no curveballs since those pitches triggered pain. The Diamondbacks are hoping Gallen can pitch a simulated game soon.
How Tar Heels did in first series, what’s next
Daniel Bard, Colorado Rockies closer
Thursday: 8–5 win vs. Dodgers — Save, 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
Saturday: 6–5 loss vs. Dodgers — Save, 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
Season statistics — 2 games, 0–0, 1 save, 0.00 ERA, 2 BB, 4K, 2.00 WHIP
Up next — vs. Diamondbacks, 8:40 Tuesday, Wednesday, 3:10 p.m. Thursday; at Giants Friday-Sunday
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Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
On 10-day injured list with a hairline fracture in his right forearm
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Matt Harvey, Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Saturday: 4–2 win at Red Sox — no decision, 4⅔ innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
Next start — Scheduled for Thursday vs. Boston, 3:05 p.m.
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Andrew Miller, St. Louis Cardinals reliever
Saturday: 9–6 loss at Reds — 1 inning, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts, 1 home run
Sunday: 12–1 loss at Reds — 1 inning, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, 12 pitches
Season statistics — 0–0, 4.50 ERA, 3Ks, 1.50 WHIP
Up next — at Reds 4:10 p.m. Saturday and 1:10 p.m. Sunday; at Marlins 6:40 p.m. Monday
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Colin Moran, Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman
Thursday: 5–3 win at Cubs — 0 for 2, 1 run, 3 walks, 1 strikeout, 1 LOB
Saturday: 5–1 loss at Cubs — 1 for 4, 2 strikeouts, 1 LOB, 1 throwing error
Sunday: 4–3 loss at Cubs — 2 for 4, 1 run, 1 homer, 2 RBI, 1 strikeout
Season statistics — 3 games, .300 BA, 2 run, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .462 OBP
Up next — vs. Padres, 6:35 Monday-Wednesday, 12:35 p.m. Thursday; at Brewers, Friday-Sunday Monday
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Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners third baseman
Thursday: 8–7 win vs. Giants — 1 for 4, 1 run, 1 walk, 1 LOB
Friday: 6–3 loss vs. Giants — 0 for 4
Saturday: 4–0 win vs. Giants — 2 for 4
Season statistics — 3 games, .250 BA, 1 run, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .308 OBP
Up next — vs. White Sox, 10:10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 4:10 p.m. Wednesday; at Twins, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
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Jacob Stallings, Pittsburgh Pirates catcher
Thursday: 5–3 win at Cubs — 2 for 4, double, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 2 LOB
Saturday: 5–1 loss at Cubs — 0 for 3, 1 strikeout, 1 LOB
Season statistics — 2 games, .286 BA, 1 RBI, .805 OPS
Up next — vs. Padres, 6:35 Monday-Wednesday, 12:35 p.m. Thursday; at Brewers, Friday-Sunday Monday
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Trent Thornton, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher
Sunday: 3–1 win at Yankees — 1⅓ innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 1 walk, no strikeouts, 34 pitches
Up next — at Rangers 4:05 p.m. Monday, 8:05 p.m. Tuesday, 2:05 p.m. Wednesday; vs. Angels in Dunedin, Fla., Thursday-Sunday.
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