Mets win 8th in a row but suffer more key injuries

The Associated Press
April 20, 2015 at 4:50AM
New York Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud, manager Terry Collins, home plate umpire Sean Barber and a Mets trainer discuss relief pitcher Jerry Blevins' (13) injured left forearm in the seventh inning of a baseball game at Citi Field on Sunday, April 19, 2015, in New York. Blevins left forearm was fractured by a line drive by Miami Marlins Dee Gordon. d'Arnaud later left the game when he fractured his right hand after being hit by a pitch thrown by Miami Marlins relief pitcher A.J. Ramos. (AP Photo/
The news was bad for Mets reliever Jerry Blevins (13), who took a line drive off his left arm. Catcher Travis d’Arnaud, left, also became a casualty later. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

NEW YORK – Catcher Travis d'Arnaud had his right hand in a blue cast. Jerry Blevins' left arm was in a sling. About the only thing not broken Sunday at Citi Field was the New York Mets' winning streak.

Matt Harvey won his third consecutive start to begin his comeback season, and the banged-up Mets, despite losing two important players to injuries, held off the Miami Marlins 7-6 for their eighth consecutive victory.

"It's really unfortunate," Harvey said. "We're playing such good baseball right now. The last thing you want to happen is something like that."

Ruben Tejada had a three-run double and d'Arnaud singled twice in a seven-run fourth inning. But New York later lost d'Arnaud to a broken hand when he was hit by a pitch. Blevins, a key reliever, took a line drive off his pitching arm.

"It's a good day ; we won and we'll take that away, but a tough day for us," manager Terry Collins said.

After the Marlins trimmed a six-run deficit to one, Jeurys Familia retired Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton on grounders with a runner at second for his sixth save.

Already missing captain David Wright (hamstring) and righthander Zack Wheeler (elbow surgery), the Mets (10-3) matched the best start in franchise history. They won their first seven home games for the first time.

"Bittersweet day, I guess. We're playing so well, and the two guys that got hurt were playing awesome," said Eric Campbell, who has been filling in nicely for Wright at third base.

New York also opened 10-3 in 1986 and 2006 — and won division titles both times.

Harvey (3-0) has been sick lately but said he didn't want to give up a start. Handed a 7-1 lead, he tired and was chased with none out in the seventh.

"I can't swallow anything. Just felt weak, run down," he said.

The ace, coming off Tommy John surgery, yielded four runs and eight hits.

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MIKE FITZPATRICK

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