Harvey returns to Citi Field mound vs. Phillies

(SportsNetwork.com) - New York Mets fans have waited a long time for this.

Matt Harvey returns to Citi Field on Tuesday when the Mets continue their three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Harvey, of course, missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery and hasn't stepped foot on the mound in Flushing, N.Y., since Aug. 24, 2013.

"It's been long," Harvey said. "It took a while, but I'm glad I'm finally here."

The electric right-hander didn't disappoint in his first start back from the injury on Thursday against the Washington Nationals, as he scattered four hits and struck out nine over six scoreless innings to get the win

"When you've got a No. 1 guy that you can run out there and you know that, hey, we give him two to three runs a game and he's going to win 20 games -- we got that animal," manager Terry Collins said. "He's going to change the dynamic of what our club is all about."

Harvey may be in line for another strong outing, as he is a perfect 4-0 in five starts against the Phillies with a 1.08 ERA in five starts.

New York won its home opener on Monday, as Jacob deGrom and three Mets relievers combined on an seven-hit shutout in a 2-0 victory.

DeGrom (1-1), the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, picked up his first win of the season, allowing seven hits, striking out three and walking one over 6 1/3 innings. Carlos Torres, Jerry Blevins and Jeurys Familia didn't allow a hit over the final 2 2/3 innings to secure the win for New York.

"That was a lot of fun," said deGrom about getting the home opener start. "I was looking forward to it... Early on I realized I didn't have my best stuff and I managed my way through it."

Juan Lagares and Travis d'Arnaud drove in a run apiece for the Mets, who have won all four of their games during the day.

"I thought we hit the ball pretty hard today," said Collins. "We have to continue to go out and put good swings on the ball. We have some good offensive players here."

Freddy Galvis went 3-for-3 for the Phillies, losers of two in a row. Cody Asche added two hits for Philadelphia, which was shutout for the second time this season.

Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Harang (1-1) suffered the tough-luck loss. The right-hander allowed just one run on four hits in six innings, striking out one and walking two.

On Tuesday, Philadelphia will turn to righty David Buchanan, who was battered by the Boston Red Sox his first time out. Buchanan failed to make it past three innings and was rocked to the tune of six runs and seven hits. He also walked four batters and absorbed the loss.

"That inning can't happen," Buchanan said of his six-run third inning. "Two outs, no runs have scored yet. You've got an open base and you end up walking a guy. You deserve what's coming if you keep doing that."

In three starts versus the Mets Buchanan is 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA.

The Mets won 13 of 19 from the Phillies last season.