Recap:

For the first time since 1996, Mets fans could walk the field parading their Mets banners and expressing their passionate love for their New York Mets. R.A. Dickey took the hill looking to take this four game set from the Padres with a win on such a special and fan-filled day and did not disappoint.

Dickey went a dominant shutout 7.1 innings, allowing just three hits and a walk while punching out ten Friars. San Diego was completely overwhelmed by the knuckleball as they failed for the second consecutive ballgame to score a run. Adding onto a 4-0 record in his last six starts with a 2.48 ERA, Dickey continues to be a perfect compliment to Johan Santana and a stabilizing force in front of a young and somewhat unproven 3-4-5 in the rotation in 2012.

The Mets bats we all over Padres starter Edinson Volquez as his controlled was an issue throughout his outing today. Volquez went 5 2/3 frames, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks, taking the loss to fall to 2-5 on the year. Accounting for those two runs included a two out rally capped off by a Daniel Murphy RBI single in the first, and a Rick Ankiel-esq minor meltdown in the fifth.

After surrendering a leadoff double to Mike Baxter in the fifth, Volquez threw a wild pitch to Kirk Nieuwenhuis that moved Baxter to third. The very next pitch went to the backstop again, officially a passed ball this time however, scoring Baxter to give the Mets  a commanding 2-0 lead.

In the eighth, Dickey’s control began to fade, hitting Nick Hundley and walking Chris Denorfia before being relieved by Tim Byrdak, who came on and retiring the next two batters to end the threat.

The following frame, the resurgent Frank Francisco came on to pitch the ninth and hurled a 1-2-3 to slam the door, picking up his 13th save and catapulting the Mets into sole possession of second place in the NL East and now just two games out of first place.

Hero Of The Game:

Who else but R.A. Dickey, who has never looked better in his professional career as he does right now.

Notes:

-R.A. Dickey improved to 7-1 on the year and is now tied for the major-league lead in wins with Cole Hamels and Lance Lynn.

-Ike Davis took an 0-3 today with two strikeouts however saw alot of pitches from Volquez before being retired twice on the changeup.

-Justin Turner was the only Met to record a 2-hit game today, raising his average to .262 on the year.

-David Wright also took an 0-3 and his average has dropped to .382 on the season.

Up Next:

The Mets open up a series with the Phillies with Jon Niese on the hill to square off against Cole Hamels starting at 7:05pm.