SAN FRANCISCO —— Matt Harvey probably should start the All-Star game next Tuesday for the simple reason it would ensure he won't have to pitch the seventh inning.
For the second time in less than a week, Mets manager Terry Collins stuck with his tiring warhorse into the seventh and got burned by the decision.
The Mets didn't let anybody off the hook until the 16th inning, when Brandon Crawford booted Anthony Recker's grounder, allowing Eric Young Jr. to score the go-ahead run in a 4-3 victory over the Giants at AT&T Park. Young singled and stole second to begin the rally, helping the Mets (38-48) win their second straight. It was the Mets' fourth game this season that lasted at least 15 innings. The Mets had lost the other three.
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This one wasn't complete until Bobby Parnell struck out Pablo Sandoval and retired Guillermo Quiroz with the tying and winning run on base in the bottom of the 16th inning, ending the 5-hour, 26 minute marathon (for fans watching on the East Coast, that translated into 3:42 a.m.).
Crawford's RBI single in the seventh tied the game at 3-3 against Harvey after Hunter Pence smashed a leadoff triple that just missed clearing the high brick wall in right-center.
In his previous start, Harvey appeared on fumes heading into the seventh against the Diamondbacks and allowed two runs in the inning, without recording an out, to receive his second loss of the season.
Harvey's final line over seven innings last night included three earned runs allowed on six hits with six strikeouts and one walk. He threw 121 pitches.
Before the game Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who will manage the NL All-Stars and select the starting pitcher, said last night's performance probably wouldn't affect his decision either way.
"I can't say this game is going to play a big part in it," Bochy said. "I know which way I'm leaning. This kid is having a special year. I know he's from New York. All that has been discussed. I'll just leave it at that right now."
Harvey has already received the endorsement of his primary competition for the start, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw.
"There's no reason, especially if it's in New York, that he shouldn't start," Kershaw told FoxSports.com. "That's what the fans will want. I've got no problem with that."
Bochy indicated that Harvey has impressed him.
"We all know about his great fastball, but he has other pitches he throws, too, and he's commanding them," Bochy said. "I think sometimes it's a matter of a young player getting settled in, whether it's a position player or pitcher. This guy has got tremendous stuff. Sometimes, it takes a while to get that confidence and that sense of belonging. He certainly has it now."
Harvey's final start before the All-Star break is scheduled for Saturday in Pittsburgh, but it could be an abbreviated appearance if the right-hander is going to start the Midsummer Classic. Collins said before the game that a 115-120 pitch outing against the Pirates would probably preclude Harvey from pitching in the All-Star game.
Tim Lincecum was a handful for the Mets by striking out 11 over seven innings in which he surrendered three runs on six hits and a walk.
The Mets took the lead in the sixth, following an Eric Young Jr. leadoff triple - on which left fielder Andres Torres had to throw over a crouched down security official who had strayed onto the field attempting to avoid the ball.
Daniel Murphy delivered a bloop RBI single off the diving Torres' glove to make it 2-2 before David Wright reached on an infield single and Murphy took third on Marco Scutaro's wild throw. Murphy scored the go-ahead run when Ike Davis hit into a double play.
Lincecum pitched four hitless innings before Marlon Byrd singled leading off the fifth. John Buck then smashed an RBI double that sliced the Giants' lead to 2-1. It continued a solid road trip for Buck, who had three hits in eight at-bats against the Brewers over the weekend, but nevertheless was in a 7-for-50 (.140) tailspin as last night's play began.
Buster Posey slammed a 95-mph heater from Harvey over the left-field fence in the first to give the Giants a 2-0 lead. Scutaro had singled before Posey jumped on a 3-1 pitch with two outs for his 13th home run of the season.
mpuma@nypost.com
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