You See The Hat?!

mattjacobson:

“It was a fun night to be a Met.” - R.A. Dickey

It was a fun night to be a Met and it was a fun night to be a Mets fan.

In their 8020th game, on June 1st, 2012, Johan Santana threw the first no-hitter in New York Mets history.  I’ve been waiting a long time to say that.

The Curse of Nolan Ryan is no more.

I’m 30 years old, I’m too young to vividly remember the euphoria around the 1986 World Series.  Sure, I have some vague memories and I’ve seen all the videos, but that’s all.  In 2006 I was hoping to make some of my own, but alas Adam Wainwright took that opportunity away when he struck out Carlos Beltrán in Game 7.

Oh, look who is on the mound tonight for the defending World Series champion Cardinals - Adam Wainwright.  Oddly, there’s Carlos Beltran, 300’ behind Wainwright, playing center field for the enemy.  His first game in center in two years.

I listened to a few innings on the radio and then in the fourth inning I flipped on the TV.  Middle of the fourth inning, no hits for either team.  I’d better not wander too far from the TV, this could get interesting with Santana and Wainwright dueling.  Kirk Nieuwenhuis promptly singled off the second base bag - a few minutes later and the Mets are on the board.  2-0 Metsies, more than enough for Johan on this night.

Santana was dealing.

The story coming into the game was the return of Beltran and he made sure to stay a big part of the story.  Santana struck him out swinging in the top of the first and got him on a soft liner in the eigth.  In the top of the sixth Beltran pulled a ball down the third base line that hopped over the bag and ht the chalk, but the umpire called it a foul ball.  A gift from the baseball gods.  You know things are going in your favor when you get that call.  Even Carlos Beltran getting a hit can’t derail this no hitter.

In the seventh inning, the Pride of Whitestone, Mike Baxter made a catch that will forever be in Mets highlight reels.  Baxter chased after a line drive off the bat of Yadier Molina that  looked like it had no chance of being caught.  Baxter, who grew up a Mets fan and lived just minutes from the ballpark is well versed in the Mets no hit drought.  He knew he had to make this catch to give his team a chance.

Move over Endy Chavez.  Baxter just made the most important catch in franchise history.  It wasn’t nearly as pretty, but boy was it important.  After catching the ball Baxter hit the wall hard and then landed on the ground in pain.  The umpire wasn’t even sure if he had the ball.  On his way down, Baxter double clutched at the ball, securing it before hitting the dirt.  The importance of holding that ball was not lost on Mike Baxter.

Molina put the dagger in the Mets hearts in 2006 with a line drive to left field in game 7 on the NLCS - a game winning home run off Aaron Heilman.  Not this time.  

Baxter was escorted off the field by the Mets training staff and was showered with appreciative cheers.  Mets fans were starting to realize there was a real chance it might happen this time.

In the 8th and 9th innings, with his pitch count soaring, Santana continued to treat the NL’s best offense like a team lost.  Instead of playing the way they have been the last couple months they were swinging at the first pitch and bad balls, giving Santana exactly what he needed to finish them off.

The final batter of the game was World Series MVP, David Freese.  After starting him off with three straight balls, Santana came back to strike him out on his signature change.  Freese lunged at the ball as it dove down.  Josh Thole, in his first game back from a concussion, caught it for strike three, turned to the ump to confirm and began to celebrate.

Citi Field has its first great memory and now the team and fans can build more from there.