When Tylor Megill and four relievers combined to shut out the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night at Citi Field, the Mets recorded their second no-hitter in team history. It took six walks and five pitchers to complete the feat.
The accomplishment is the latest high point of Megill’s breakthrough season, which began when he was named the team’s surprising opening day starter and has progressed to 4-0 with a 1.93 earned run average in five outings. The pitcher was removed from the game after five innings on Friday, after walking three and striking out five batters in that time. He had thrown a total of 88 pitches.
Drew Smith came in to replace Megill, who went one and a third innings, striking out one and walking one. Smith was relieved of his duties by Joely Rodriguez, who worked one inning and walked two batters. Seth Lugo was the fourth pitcher, and he struck out both hitters he faced.
Despite facing Bryce Harper, the reigning National League Most Valuable Player Award winner, leading off the ninth inning, the team’s closer, Edwin Daz, came through with flying colours, striking out the side on 13 pitches.
Even though the Mets’ most serious problem seemed to be an outbreak of wildness, the team’s pitchers were saved on a number of occasions by outstanding defensive plays by centre fielder Brandon Nimmo.
On a night that belonged to the pitchers, the team’s offence limited the drama to a bare minimum. Two-run singles from Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso gave the Mets an early lead in the bottom of the second inning, and a home run from first baseman Jose Reyes gave the bullpen some breathing space in the bottom of the sixth.
On one occasion, the Mets went through a difficult period in which the team did not have a no-hitter from 1962 until 2012 (despite the fact that former Met Nolan Ryan threw a record seven), but that streak was finally ended when Johan Santana threw a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 1, 2012, ending the franchise’s long drought of no-hitters.
