PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets starter Matt Harvey called his first outing back from surgery a "good first step" -- even if his pitching line failed to reflect it.
Harvey, who underwent surgery last summer to address thoracic outlet syndrome, allowed four runs in 1 2/3 innings in the Mets' 14-11 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. He threw 39 pitches before manager Terry Collins pulled him for reliever Addison Reed with two outs in the second.
Results notwithstanding, Harvey achieved his goal of developing a comfort level on the mound and getting better extension on his pitches than he did last season, when a nerve-related ailment forced him to shut it down after July 4.
"The biggest thing is finally feeling like I'm throwing the way I want to, and getting out there and throwing more repetitions," Harvey said. "I think today was a good first step, and getting out there more is going to be beneficial for me.
"Anytime you go out and face a team for the first time in a long time, you get those jitters back. I was happy with it, and I'm glad the first one is out of the way. My body feels great and my arm feels great."
Harvey looked sharp in the first inning, setting down Dexter Fowler, Aledmys Diaz and Yadier Molina in order on 11 pitches. Then things unraveled in the second. He allowed a leadoff double to Jhonny Peralta, lost control of a fastball and hit Matt Adams in the upper back, then fell behind 3-0 in the count to Jose Martinez before surrendering a three-run homer to left field.
Harvey topped out at 94 mph on the radar gun at First Data Field and threw the majority of his fastballs in the 91 to 93 mph range. But catcher Rene Rivera was unconcerned with Harvey's middling velocity, given the extent of his layoff and the severity of his injury. Harvey also mixed in some sliders, curveballs and changeups against the Cardinals.
"It was the first time out there," Rivera said. "I think he wanted to be more simple and get his mechanics going and be nice and smooth. He did that."
Harvey's shaky start came a day after Jacob deGrom looked dominant with two shutout innings against the Houston Astros. The Mets' run of injury rehabs continues Monday when Steven Matz, coming off surgery to remove a bone spur from inside his left elbow, makes his first spring appearance against the Miami Marlins.
In addition, Zack Wheeler threw more than 30 pitches of live batting practice Sunday in preparation for his Grapefruit League debut against Atlanta on Friday. Wheeler, who had Tommy John surgery in March 2015, has been limited to one minor league rehab appearance over the past two seasons.
"I wouldn't say I'm 100 percent letting it go," Wheeler said. "But I'm 90 to 95 percent comfortable. I'm just making sure I'm good before I take that next step."