Johan Santana Throws No-Hitter, First In Mets History

Johan Santana made New York Mets history last night. The two-time Cy Young Award winner threw 134 pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals to give the New York Mets their first no-hitter in over 50-years.

The Mets, who have had top pitchers like Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Dwight Gooden, and Tom Glavine step onto the mound, played 8,019 games without a no-hitter. But you know what they say. The 8020th time is the charm. (According to ESPN, 8020 games is the longest any team has ever gone before recording its first no-hitter. The Padres have played 6,895 games without a no-hitter and they are still waiting for their first.)

Santana, who missed last season to have shoulder surgery, said:

“‘Finally, the first one… That is the greatest feeling ever. Amazing… Coming into this season I was just hoping to come back and stay healthy and help this team, and now I am in this situation in the greatest city for baseball.”

Yahoo Sports reports that Santana got a few key defensive plays from his teammates (and one beneficial call from the ump) during last night’s game. In the 6th inning Carlos Beltran hit a line drive down the third base line. The hit was ruled a foul ball but replays showed that the ball landed in play.

Santana also got help from Mike Baxter, who made a shoulder crushing catch in left field to keep the no-hitter in tact. Baxter would leave the game with a shoulder injury.

According to ESPN, Santana had 15 fly ball outs, three ground outs, and one line-drive out.

Boston manager Bobby Valentine, who managed the Mets from 1996-2002, said:

”I’m really happy for them. That’s been an albatross over the pitching in that franchise forever, since ’62. One of the best pitchers they’ve ever had threw it and that also gives credibility to it.”

Here’s a fan video of Johan Santana’s no-hitter.