Groton’s Matt Harvey Strikes Out 11 In First Major League Game

Matt Harvey, a graduate of Fitch High School in Groton, struck out 11 players in his first game for the Mets, setting a franchise record and scoring a 3-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to The Hartford Courant.

Harvey, who was born in New London, threw 65 of his 106 pitches for strikes, the newspaper reported. Three batters hit off Harvey, and three walked; he had two hits during the game, The Courant said.

It was the second victory for the Mets out of 14 games.

Harvey “singled and doubled to become the first pitcher since 1900 to strike out at least 10 and have at least two hits in his major league debut,” the paper said.

Harvey was drafted seventh overall in the 2010 MLB Amateur draft and has been a top prospect in the Mets’ system ever since. Before being drafted, he was a standout starter for the University of North Carolina and before that, Fitch High School.

Harvey, 23, is 6’4” and weighs 224 lbs. In his two seasons in the minors, Harvey is 20-10 with a 3.48 ERA and struck out 268 batters in 245 2/3 innings.