Myers, Harvey shine as Triple-A All-Stars

BUFFALO -- They may not be at this level for much longer, but Wil Myers and Matt Harvey decided to make the most of some of their remaining time as Triple-A players.

Harvey, the Mets' pitching prospect, and Myers, the Royals' up-and-coming outfielder, were the "Stars of the Game" in the 25th Triple-A All-Star Game as Myers' Pacific Coast League squad beat Harvey and the International League, 3-0, in front of a sold-out crowd at the Bisons' Coca Cola Park on Wednesday night.

Myers, the No. 14 overall prospect on MLB.com's Top 100 prospect list, went 2-for-3 with an RBI single, a double and a run scored. This comes on the heels of playing in front of what should be his hometown crowd in Kansas City during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. Myers, who is tied for the Minor League lead with 27 homers, got a standing ovation at Kauffman Stadium and had two hits there as well, driving in three runs.

"I've played two games in about six days, but it's been a great experience, especially in Kansas City," said Myers, who many feel will see the Royals outfield at some point in the second half of the season. "It's been a good week for me."

Harvey, No. 30 on the Top 100, was the only pitcher in the game to go more than an inning, much to the delight of the Buffalo faithful. Harvey is currently on the Bisons' staff and received the kind of welcome, both when he was introduced pregame as well as when he took the mound in the second inning, reserved for a local hero.

"It was hard not to [get fired up], especially here in Buffalo," Harvey said. "It was fun to pitch in front of these fans. It was a great experience."

Harvey didn't disappoint, throwing two hitless innings and striking out a pair in his two innings of work. Both strikeouts came in the third inning after he retired the side in order in the second on three groundouts. After his lone blemish -- grazing D-backs prospect Jake Elmore -- he struck out fellow D-back Ryan Wheeler. After inducing veteran Mike Hessman, tied with Myers with 27 homers on the season, to pop out to short, he struck out Luis Jimenez from the Mariners organization to end the inning.

When Harvey entered the game, he was already down 2-0. The PCL scored twice in their first time at bat. D-backs prospect Adam Eaton led off the game with a single and went to third on Elmore's base hit. Hessman's one-out sacrifice fly scored Eaton, and after a Jimenez walk, Myers drove in Elmore with a two-out single.

"That was different," Harvey said. "Usually, I come in to start the game. I was glad to get in and keep them from scoring."

Harvey has been doing a fairly good job of that for most of the season, with a 3.39 ERA in 18 starts and striking out 102 in 98 1/3 innings, good for second in the IL in strikeouts. The 2010 first-round pick looks like he's about poised to make the jump to the big leagues and it might be just in time. Right-hander Dillon Gee will undergo surgery on his right shoulder Friday, so there's a need for help in the big league rotation. For now, it seems Harvey will stay in Buffalo, with Miguel Batista being called upon to step into the rotation and reliever Josh Edgin getting the callup from Buffalo. Long term, however, few doubt that Harvey is the answer.

"All I can do is prepare for my next start here," Harvey said, adding that he and Gee had become good friends and he was more concerned with his fellow right-hander's health.

Once Harvey was out of the game, the PCL added one more run, and again, Myers was at the center of it. He led off the frame with a double off Zach Duke, now pitching for Syracuse, the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate. After two ground-ball outs, Dodgers catching prospect Tim Federowicz doubled in Myers to give his league that three-run cushion.

Myers, like Harvey, is on the cusp of his first callup. The experience at the Futures Game no doubt added to that clamoring, with people telling Myers during his stay there that he should just not leave.

"I'd be lying if I didn't think about the call every day," Myers said. "Any time I take the field now, I wonder if it is my last game.

"It's hard, but I try not to get too caught up in that. Right now, I just want to go out there, have good at-bats and keep getting better."