For 8 glorious years he was all ours. Then it was gone and the wind blows cold in Minnesota.
Johan Santana Pitched a No-No for the New York Mets:
What stood between the Mets and their first no-hitter in their 50-year history was a matter of inches, Carlos Beltran and one deceiving baseball. Johan Santana was supposed to have a pitch count, but his left shoulder was not supposed to be this healthy, and for how well he danced with fate all night, it would not have mattered how many pitches he threw.
But in the sixth inning, on his way to no-hitting the St. Louis Cardinals, Santana left a pitch where Beltran could pull it down the left-field line. It appeared to be a fair ball, what would have been a double, what would have ended the no-hitter. The third-base umpire, Adrian Johnson, called it foul, and Beltran then grounded out.
Santana ran the count full against the next hitter, Matt Holliday, only to dip out of danger again by striking out Holliday on a chest-high changeup. All night it went like this, until Santana had completed his no-hitter, throwing 134 pitches even though Manager Terry Collins had said his limit was 115, and walking five batters. The Mets won, 8-0.
Santana was amazing to watch. It appears that still is the case.
Roll on Johan, roll on!
I’m a Mets fan and very relieved that the franchise has finally gotten a no hitter after all this time. When you think of all the pitching talent they’ve had through the years (Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Doc Gooden, David Cone, Pedro Martinez, Al Leiter) it’s hard to believe it has taken this long.
it’s hard to believe it has taken this long.
I’m glad Johan is working out for ya! I love rooting for him and his team in the same way that I love pulling for Kevin Garnett and his.