NEW YORK -- The Dark Knight rose.
After weeks of having his pitches counted, his innings limited and his character questioned, Matt Harvey scaled the mound here Saturday night for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series and gave the New York Mets exactly what they expected.
Harvey dominated.
Take your pick of the tone-setting nine-pitch first inning, or the 12 consecutive batters retired to open the game, or the fastball that crackled even in a 48-degree chill and a 15-mph wind, or the changeup that slowed the Cubs' bats, or the seven more outs Harvey got after taking a line drive off the tricep in the sixth inning.