Johan Santana has done the impossible, the unthinkable, the only imaginative. He has reset the count back to zero. 8,019 games without a no-hitter but tonight is a night to remember. Save this date, June 1st, 2012 on your calenders as Johan Santana has pitched the very first no-hitter in Mets franchise history. In their 51st season, Santana has done something the likes of Seaver, Koosman, Gooden and hundreds before him couldn’t do. There was question about him going back out for the ninth as he’s back from his injury, had an incredibly high pitch count, but he pulled it off. 134 pitches thrown, the most in his career, was enough to no-hit the first place Cardinals. There were two plays that went the Mets way, the Beltran hit that was called foul despite hitting the chalk, and the hit-by-pitch that wasn’t called because the ump said he didn’t get out of the way. Santana, a two-time Cy Young winner, the Mets ace, and many of the fans’ favorite player and easily one of the best pitchers this franchise has ever seen, has pulled it off. Congratulations to Johan, and congrats to all us Mets fans for sticking with them. Santana ends the night going all nine innings, NO HITS, no runs, five walks, eight strikeouts and a no-hitter to put on his resume. Also gets his third win on the season.

Mets bats able to break open the game late thanks to Duda, Wright and Murphy. Scoring two in the third and then three in each the sixth and seventh inning. A total of eight runs on eight hits.

Daniel Murphy had a great night at the plate. Getting two hits: an RBI triple in the fourth, and a two-run single in the seventh for a total of three RBIs on the night. His batting average sits at .305 on the season.

David Wright with just one hit tonight. Still contributed nicely, including scoring two runs, two walks and an RBI. Career RBI number 756 in fact. Not quite hitting .400 anymore as it’s back down to .366.

Lucas Duda had one hit, but it was a three-run homerun in the sixth inning, his eighth of the season, taking over the team’s lead. Duda also had a sac fly in the fourth to give him a 4 RBI day, a career-high for him.

Mike Baxter didn’t have a hit in the game but he made a spectacular catch in left field to preserve Santana’s no-hitter in the seventh inning. He slammed his shoulder into the wall and had to be taken out of the game.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Omar Quintanilla both had two hits tonight as well and scoring four combined runs in the game. Both had a strikeout and Kirk drew a walk as well. Kirk is batting over .300 and Omar is hitting over .400. These rookies are impressing.

Ike Davis goes 0-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Batting .167.

Josh Thole went 0-4 with two strikeouts in his first game back since his concussion in early May.

Notes

Tonight marked Beltran’s first return back to Citi Field since he’s left the Mets. He was welcomed by a tribute video and cheers from the home crowd.

Game Ball

Johan Santana. Simply put.

Up Next

RA Dickey and the Mets face up against the impressive Lance Lynn and the Cardinals. Game time is 4:10 on WPIX.