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After more than a half century and 8,020 games, Johan Santana pitched the first no-hitter in New York Mets' history. Aided by an umpire's missed call and an incredible catch, Santana's start is also the first no-hitter of his career.
In the 8-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, Santana, who missed last season with shoulder surgery, walked five and struck out eight. Mets manager Terry Collins said before the game that he wanted to limit Santana to a maximum of 110-115 pitches. Santana finished with a career-high 134.
In the ninth inning, with 27,609 on hand all standing, Santana's final pitch, a 3-2 change-up, resulted in David Freese swinging and missing. Santana's teammates all stormed the mound to celebrate.
The San Diego Padres are now the only team in the major leagues without a no-hitter. The Mets previously had 35 one-hitters.
The no-hitter probably shouldn't have happened because of a missed call on a Carlos Beltran scorcher to lead off the sixth. A replay showed Beltran hit a shot down the line that landed on the white chalk. Third-base umpire Adrian Johnson ruled it a foul ball, and Beltran ended up grounding out.
In the seventh with one down, left fielder Mike Baxter made a catch to save the no-hitter, going back on a bullet from Yadier Molina. Baxter, running to the wall, extended his left glove out and made the catch. His body, leading with his shoulder and his head, violently slammed into the wall and he laid on the ground.
Manager Terry Collins and team trainers ran out to left field. Baxter eventually got to his feet and walked off the field. The crowd gave him a standing ovation.
The Mets announced Baxter has a left-shoulder bruise, but was undergoing further testing.
In the ninth, Matt Holliday lined out to center for the initial out. The second out came on an Allen Craig looping liner to left.
Friday night added to an incredible comeback from shoulder surgery for Santana, who is now pitching as well as when he was perennially a Cy Young Award contender.
With two outs in the eighth, the fans chanted "Johan! Johan! Johan!" Santana walked Rafael Furcal on his 118th pitch of the night, and Collins came out to talk with Santana.
Four pitches later, Santana got Beltran to hit a meek infield liner that second baseman Daniel Murphy snared.
During the bottom of the eighth, Santana sat away from his teammates at the end of the dugout, awaiting his chance at history. He then made it happen for a franchise that has been trying since 1962.
Source: AP
In the 8-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, Santana, who missed last season with shoulder surgery, walked five and struck out eight. Mets manager Terry Collins said before the game that he wanted to limit Santana to a maximum of 110-115 pitches. Santana finished with a career-high 134.
In the ninth inning, with 27,609 on hand all standing, Santana's final pitch, a 3-2 change-up, resulted in David Freese swinging and missing. Santana's teammates all stormed the mound to celebrate.
The San Diego Padres are now the only team in the major leagues without a no-hitter. The Mets previously had 35 one-hitters.
The no-hitter probably shouldn't have happened because of a missed call on a Carlos Beltran scorcher to lead off the sixth. A replay showed Beltran hit a shot down the line that landed on the white chalk. Third-base umpire Adrian Johnson ruled it a foul ball, and Beltran ended up grounding out.
In the seventh with one down, left fielder Mike Baxter made a catch to save the no-hitter, going back on a bullet from Yadier Molina. Baxter, running to the wall, extended his left glove out and made the catch. His body, leading with his shoulder and his head, violently slammed into the wall and he laid on the ground.
Manager Terry Collins and team trainers ran out to left field. Baxter eventually got to his feet and walked off the field. The crowd gave him a standing ovation.
The Mets announced Baxter has a left-shoulder bruise, but was undergoing further testing.
In the ninth, Matt Holliday lined out to center for the initial out. The second out came on an Allen Craig looping liner to left.
Friday night added to an incredible comeback from shoulder surgery for Santana, who is now pitching as well as when he was perennially a Cy Young Award contender.
With two outs in the eighth, the fans chanted "Johan! Johan! Johan!" Santana walked Rafael Furcal on his 118th pitch of the night, and Collins came out to talk with Santana.
Four pitches later, Santana got Beltran to hit a meek infield liner that second baseman Daniel Murphy snared.
During the bottom of the eighth, Santana sat away from his teammates at the end of the dugout, awaiting his chance at history. He then made it happen for a franchise that has been trying since 1962.
Source: AP