Mets React To Second No-Hitter In Franchise History

It happened.

Like seeing a “white buffalo or a unicorn,” as Pete Alonso described it, it happened. For the second time ever, the New York Mets threw a no-hitter. It was the first such occasion since June 1, 2012, when Johan Santana made history by throwing the first no-hitter in the franchise’s history. Until Friday night, that moment was etched into Mets fans’ heads as the lone no-hitter the team had accomplished. Now, they have something new to celebrate. Santana himself even chimed in after the game to acknowledge the accomplishment.

Brandon Nimmo, who went 1-for-3 with a walk in Friday’s game, was in the Mets’ minor league system when Santana accomplished the feat.

“It’s one of the highlights that we see most often here,” Nimmo said. “Before games, after games. During rain delays they always play that game again… It’s pretty special. I’m just trying to soak it all in and enjoy this night, because it is one of those ones that you guys are gonna be playing over and over again.”

Instead of Santana going the distance as the lone man, five Mets pitchers combined to keep a talented Phillies offense not just out of the runs column, but away from the hits column as well.

Manager Buck Showalter put it most simply: “They were good.”

It started with five great innings from Tylor Megill. The right-hander, who wasn’t even a lock to make the team before Jacob deGrom‘s injury, battled through some tough at-bats to keep the Phillies off the board. The Mets’ offense didn’t score any runs until after Megill was taken out, only increasing the importance of Megill’s performance on the mound.

“There was just such a small margin of error with those guys,” Showalter said. “You’re a walk and a blast from having a tie game very quickly. Like I’ve said many times, at this level, everybody’s got pop through their order. You can’t drop your guard, and I think our guys were more about trying to win a game.”

Drew Smith relieved Megill and went the next 1 1/3. He said he didn’t even know the team had a no-hitter going until the eighth inning when he went back to the training room.

“I heard Gary [Cohen] say something about history, and then I looked up at the zero, and I was like ‘Josh, is that happening?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, you had no idea?'” Smith said. “Nobody knew in the bullpen. Not a single person.”

Joely Rodriguez recorded the next three outs, also without a clue that there was a no-hitter going on. Similar to Smith, he found out when he went back to the training room. By his own admission, he looked up at the TV and said “What?!” Seth Lugo came in and retired the final two batters of the eighth inning, then promptly went to the gym and found out that he just progressed a developing no-no.

“In the moment, you’re not really paying attention to it,” Megill said of the lack of awareness. “But obviously you look deeper into the game, you start to look at the scoreboard and see.”

With the Mets up 3-0, closer Edwin Diaz came in for his usual ninth inning appearance. Unlike the rest of the staff, Diaz was the one pitcher who said he knew it was going on, since he likes to watch the scoreboard to know who he’s facing. It was Diaz who recorded the highest-pressure outs, striking out the side in the ninth to cap off the historic feat.

“I’m ecstatic, it’s crazy,” Megill said. “It’s the first one I’ve been a part of.”

Catcher James McCann interrupted Megill, jumping in with “Can’t you tell how excited he is?” in a playful reference to Megill’s monotone voice. McCann was a significant part of the no-hitter himself, catching all nine innings and five pitchers.

“I take a lot of pride in it,” McCann said. “You start hearing the crowd getting into it, realizing that you have a chance for something special. Especially with multiple guys. If it’s one guy, you’re on the same page on all night, but trying to get on the same page with a lot of guys, it’s definitely special to be able to share it with so many people.”

The Mets did enough offensively to make the no-hitter count for something, scratching out three runs on 10 hits in the 3-0 victory. Jeff McNeil had two of the three RBIs, hitting a two-run single in the fifth to start the scoring.

“That was probably the coolest thing I’ve ever seen on a Major League Baseball field, being part of it,” McNeil said. “Special night for everyone. A lot of fun. Pitchers pitched unbelievable obviously, and I was glad I could be a part of it.”

Alonso was the other major offensive contributor, smacking his fourth home run of the year in the sixth inning. He said the coolest part of Friday evening for him personally was experiencing the last out.

“The entire game goes down to this one moment, and then once Sugar [Diaz] had J.T. Realmuto down to his last strike, you get this super tingly feeling of excitement,” Alonso said. “You’re like, ‘I hope this is it. I hope he doesn’t hit a broken-bat duck fart over somebody’s head.'”

The win pushed the Mets to an MLB-best record of 15-6. The team has been able to operate without deGrom, and Friday was one of what should be many more highlights for this squad in 2022. Alonso said their success has come from their resiliency and their ability to look forward to the next game. They’re enjoying the special moment of this no-hitter now, but they’re always anticipating whatever’s next.

“You never know what can happen with this group at the yard,” Alonso said. “We have a lot of talent. We have a lot of knowledge. You can never count the Mets out.”