When Matt Harvey stepped onto the mound of Citi Field on Wednesday, it all flowed back.
Race for the World Series in 2015. Injury after this. The fall from grace, which ended with him having been nominated for non-work three years earlier.
Finally, after 1,105 days, Harvey first pitched in Queens as it all ended and found himself holding back tears as he was welcomed back with a standing ovation several times.
“There were a lot of memories, a lot of memories,” Harvey said. “Obviously, there have been so many ups and downs here in this ballpark and with this organization that I really did not know what to do.
“What the fans gave me was very unbelievable. I was wiping tears. I am not lying about that, it was very difficult to catch them. It reminded me a lot of good memories. Coming off the field with ovation like this, it brought back a lot and it was very special to me. Something that I will never forget. “
The Mets bombarded Harvey for seven runs on eight hits in 4 innings, but Harvey said he could not beat himself to a bad start in what has otherwise been an encouraging bouncy season for 32 years.
Instead, Wednesday was about being back at the ballpark that saw him perform with his best and worst during a six-year career in the Mets’ uniform. Given how it ended, however, Harvey was not sure what to expect from the 8,035 fans in attendance.
“I feel for the fans that maybe I disappointed them,” he said. “I think it would be fair to say that I would be able to understand what they did [boo me]. I am very glad that they did not leave and went the other way. “
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