New York @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 4, 2012 ) NY Mets 6, San Diego 2

Rookie Matt Harvey seeks to continue his success when the New York Mets close a three-game series against the San Diego Padres on Sunday. The 23-year-old Harvey excelled in his first two major-league outings – both on the road – and another solid effort could help the Mets finish 7-4 on an 11-game West Coast swing. San Diego has lost eight of 12 games and has allowed 28 runs in its last four losses.

Second baseman Daniel Murphy and outfielder Mike Baxter each reached base five times in New York’s win Saturday. Murphy had four hits for the fifth time this season while Baxter matched the National League record by walking five times in a nine-inning game. San Diego is starting Jason Marquis in the finale and Mets third baseman David Wright is batting .412 with two homers in 34 career at-bats against the veteran hurler. Padres third baseman Chase Headley hit his 14th homer Saturday and is only six RBIs shy of his career-high of 64 established in 2009.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Matt Harvey (1-1, 1.59 ERA) vs. Padres RH Jason Marquis (6-10, 5.54)

Harvey has been brilliant in his first two outings by striking out 18 in 11 1/3 innings and allowing only seven hits. Harvey had 11 strikeouts in his major-league debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 26. He lost to the San Francisco Giants in his second outing.

Marquis had a three-game winning streak snapped in his last outing when the Cincinnati Reds roughed him up for seven runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He allowed only six earned runs during the winning streak before giving up his second-most runs of the season. Marquis hasn’t faced the Mets this season and is 6-7 with a 4.58 ERA in 25 career appearances (18 starts) against New York.

WALK-OFFS

1. Slumping Mets OF Jason Bay (2-for-36) has a favorable matchup as he is batting .356 with five homers in 45 career at-bats against Marquis.

2. Padres INF Alexi Amarista had three hits Saturday and is batting .308 at Petco Park.

3. New York SS Ruben Tejada had two hits to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 10 games.