Harvey's sinker effective in Mets debut

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Matt Harvey's eagerly awaited Mets debut in Monday night's 3-1 loss to the Nationals was pretty much what you might expect from his first time out.

Harvey, taking part in his first major-league camp, didn't allow a hit in two scoreless innings. He walked three and also drilled Jesus Flores to load the bases in the fourth. But he got Xavier Paul to swing at a first-pitch sinker for a double play.

The sinker is a pitch Harvey added during the offseason after getting burned up in the strike zone last season. "It was moving pretty good," he said.

The marquee matchup of the evening also came in the fourth when Harvey, the seventh overall pick in the 2010 draft, faced Bryce Harper, who was selected No. 1 that year. Harvey walked him on four pitches.

Asked if that could be the start of a battle that continues into the majors, Harvey chose not to look that far ahead. "I'm just trying to stay healthy," he said, "and hopefully I can get there."

Jose who?Andres Torres, taking over in the leadoff spot, did a fair imitation of Jose Reyes. He walked in the first, stole second and scored on Daniel Murphy's hit. He also had a single. "As I've said before, when he gets on, he scores runs," Terry Collins said. "He showed that in the first inning."

Extra basesDillon Gee allowed two hits, including a solo homer by Rick Ankiel, in his two innings. But Gee was pleased with his changeup, which he used to strike out Mark Teahen in the first inning and get a double-play comebacker from Andres Blanco in the second. "Usually my changeup takes a while," Gee said. "It hasn't been there until tonight." . . . Collins said he will play Brandon Nimmo, last year's 13th overall pick, in Tuesday's split-squad game in Port St. Lucie . . . Collins watched Zack Wheeler throw Monday. Asked what he liked, Collins replied, "Everything."