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Howard Simmons

Matt Harvey doesn't get off to a great start, but gets through two scoreless innings after starting the All-Star Game.

Matt Harvey hit the field to cheers when fans in right field saw the Mets' ace sprinting out to the bullpen to warm up for his All-Star start minutes before pre-game introductions began Tuesday night at Citi Field.

And those cheers only got louder - much louder - after he pitched. Harvey left the field to a nice ovation with many fans were standing after he threw a perfect second inning to complete his two scoreless innings of work in his Midsummer Classic debut.

Harvey, wearing bright orange spikes, struck out three, allowed one hit and hit a batter in throwing 32 pitches (22 strikes). He hit 99 miles per hour on the scoreboard radar gun and showcased a nasty, low-90s slider and high-80s change. He made David Ortiz double clutch when he threw him a curveball, too.

It was an impressive outing for Harvey, even though Mike Trout drilled the first pitch of the game, a 97-mph fastball, inside the first-base line for a leadoff double.

Two pitches later, Harvey hit the Yankees' Robinson Cano in the right knee with a 96 mph fastball. After he was examined, Cano went to first base, but came out for a pinch-runner one batter later.

The Harvey went to work on Miguel Cabrera, who just might be the best hitter in the world. But here's how good Harvey is - he got to 0-2 on Cabrera by getting a swing-and-miss on an 87 mph changeup. Cabrera struck out on a 2-2 slider that was traveling 92 mph.

Harvey then induced a fly to center by Chris Davis, the majors' leading home run hitter, on a changeup and struck out Jose Bautista on another 92 mph slider. The hardest Harvey threw in the first inning was 99.

In the second, Harvey started Ortiz with a curve, then went to a changeup and got the Boston slugger to fly to center on a fastball. Harvey and Adam Jones then tangled in a 10-pitch at-bat before Harvey struck him out with 98-mph heat.

Joe Mauer, who joked before the game that he hoped Harvey did not pitch when the Mets go to Minnesota for a makeup game later this season, put a pretty good swing on a 96 mph fastball, but lined to left to end the second.

Harvey was quite relaxed before the game and even broke a baseball tradition of sorts by talking to the media before the game. Starting pitchers normally do not speak to reporters before games they pitch.

But he's clearly enjoying the whole All-Star experience.

"How could you not?" Harvey said. "Being around all of the guys, everything they've put on, it's been really special. The red-carpet event, really awesome; being able to talk to the guys, go out for batting practice, meet everybody, really been awesome.

"Just enjoying being in the locker room, so many autographs to sign, just been so much fun to be able to talk to the guys, mostly just enjoying the time here that I have. I am sure in 30 minutes, I'll go over what's going on, maybe an hour, really enjoying myself."

Harvey was the first member of a host team to start the Midsummer Classic since Roger Clemens did it in Houston in 2004. Overall, the Mets' ace is the 11th pitcher to start an All-Star Game in his home ballpark.

That list also includes Carl Hubbell of the New York Giants in 1934 and Yankees' Red Ruffing (1939) and Whitey Ford (the second ASG in 1960). The 24-year-old Harvey is the youngest pitcher to start the All-Star Game since a 23-year-old Dwight Gooden did it in 1986 and Harvey, Gooden ('86 and 1988) and Tom Seaver (1970) are the only Mets to start All-Star Games.

Harvey knew it was a significant moment in his career to be here, beyond just schmoozing with fellow All-Stars such as Clayton Kershaw and Cliff Lee, two guys he mentioned by name. But Harvey also wanted to perform.

"We're going out and having fun, but I am a competitor," he said. "Don't want to lose, obviously."