Order restored as Mets take first place, Matt Harvey’s fastball touches 97 mph

8:27 PM ET

SAN DIEGO — The New York Mets occupy first place for the first time since sharing the top spot in the National League East three games into the season. And Matt Harvey’s fastball again is sizzling at 97 mph.

Harvey struck out a season-high 10 batters and withstood a rocky fifth inning as the Mets salvaged a split of a four-game series against the San Diego Padres with a 4-3 win on Sunday at Petco Park.

Antonio Bastardo came on with the bases loaded and none out in the eighth and proceeded to get the Mets (19-11) out of that jam unscathed to preserve the one-run lead. Bastardo struck out Derek Norris, retired Melvin Upton Jr. on a popout to first base and struck out Alexei Ramirez.

Harvey, as has been the case, stumbled in the fifth inning. He surrendered a two-run homer to Christian Bethancourt in that frame. But Harvey narrowly maintained the lead and ultimately improved to 3-4 with a 4.50 ERA.

He allowed two runs on four hits and two walks on 102 pitches over six innings.

After Bethancourt’s fifth-inning homer pulled the Padres within 3-2, opposing pitcher Andrew Cashner struck out but reached base on a wild pitch. Jon Jay then sent a double into the right-field corner. San Diego third-base coach Glenn Hoffman waved Cashner home, and catcher Kevin Plawecki narrowly applied the tag ahead …

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