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Mets' Harvey set for big league debut against Arizona

Jul 26, 2012 - 2:31 PM (Sports Network) - Rookie right-hander Matt Harvey heads to the mound for his major-league debut tonight when the skidding New York Mets open a four-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

A 23-year-old from Connecticut, Harvey was drafted out of high school in the third round by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2007 but did not sign.

He re-entered the draft as a junior at North Carolina and was selected seventh overall by the Mets in 2010.

Harvey was 13-5 while splitting time at Single-A and Double-A across 26 starts last season, then won seven times in 12 decisions across 20 starts this year at Triple-A Buffalo before the promotion.

The Mets also called up Buffalo catcher Rob Johnson and shipped right fielder Lucas Duda and catcher Mike Nickeas to the Bisons.

New York has lost six in a row and 11 of 12 since the All-Star break to fall 11 1/2 games off the pace of first-place Washington in the National League's East Division.

On Wednesday in New York, Stephen Strasburg struck out 11 over seven solid innings to lead the Washington Nationals past the Mets, 5-2, and complete a three-game sweep at Citi Field.

Jeremy Hefner (1-4) made his fourth start of the season and surrendered three runs - two earned - on six hits and two walks while striking out seven through six innings to take the loss.

Ike Davis hit a home run for the Mets.

"Once in a while when things go bad you start making excuses, but I don't deal with excuses. I deal with accountability," Mets manager Terry Collins said.

"I deal with standing up and being a man, being a professional baseball player and playing the game right. This is never about effort and we're going to get back on track."

In Arizona, Marco Scutaro knocked in three runs and Dexter Fowler went 3-for-5 and scored twice as the Colorado Rockies beat the Diamondbacks, 4-2, to stop Arizona's eight-game home winning streak.

Montero had three hits, but the Diamondbacks had their five-game overall victory string halted. Trevor Cahill (8-9) yielded eight hits and four runs over 6 2/3 innings.

Arizona starts young southpaw Wade Miley, who picked up his 15th win in 27 major-league appearances in his last start.

The 25-year-old Louisiana native was 4-2 in eight appearances for Arizona at the tail end of last season, three years after he was a supplemental draft pick in 2008.

He won six of his first seven decisions this season before losing four of seven between June 1 and the All-Star break.

In two starts since the intermission, he's picked up two more wins over Cincinnati and Houston while allowing 12 hits and four runs in 12 2/3 innings.

In 153 1/3 combined innings over his two seasons, Miley is holding opponents to a .253 batting average.

The Mets lead the all-time series between the teams, 52-50, and won two of three games when they played in New York in May.

The teams split six games last year and Arizona last won the season series in 2010.