- November 23, 2024
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My heart was pumping so hard, I thought it was going to come out of my white V-neck Friday, June 1.
My hands were clammier than at my first job interview. My dad kept giggling, rubbing his hands over his head, almost as in disbelief.
A group of us were huddled over his phone, outside of NiKi’s Pizzeria.
Every pitch Mets starter Johan Santana threw, the closer a dream came to reality.
Santana, who is pitching this season fresh off serious shoulder surgery, was deep into the seventh inning as the Mets led the St. Louis Cardinals. Santana had yet to allow a hit.
One pitch, one out, to lead off the eighth. Two more outs and cruising past 120 pitches, he was three outs away from accomplishing the unthinkable: a Mets no-hitter.
My mom kept telling me to calm down. I kept telling my dad to calm down. Time was standing still. My
heart pumped harder.
John Walsh, publisher of the Palm Coast Observer, was watching, too, as was his wife, Nancy, and daughter, Maureen.
Matt Holiday, of the Cardinals, led off the top of the ninth inning and popped out to center field. One away.
This might actually happen, I thought. All these thoughts ran through my head: If he does it, how will I celebrate? If he allows a hit (likely story), will it ever happen? Will they ever get this close again?
Allen Craig flied out to left field. Two outs.
We’ve seen this before, I thought. Two outs with no hits only to see history washed away instantly like a sandcastle on Flagler Beach.
David Freese, MVP of last season’s World Series, stepped into the batter’s box.
It was now 9:48 p.m., and I practically needed a defibrillator.
Santana peered into catcher Josh Thole’s glove and took a deep breath. He wiggled his legs, as he so famously does, and delivered his change-up — his best pitch — and the very pitch that has made his career.
“It has happened!” Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen yelled.
Santana fist-pumped. I exploded out of my chair and started screaming. My dad was in shock.
Santana just threw the first Mets no-hitter and, to be honest, I couldn’t have drawn it up any better than that.
Santana was the perfect pitcher to do it. I got to see it with my father, a Mets fan through and through.
This season, the 50th anniversary for the franchise, the team is honoring Gary “The Kid” Carter, the beloved catcher who donned No. 8. Carter died from brain cancer earlier this year.
The ironies from the game are endless: the Mets collected eight hits, scored eight runs and Santana struck out eight batters. He also threw 134 pitches — 1+3+4 = 8.
For a team that has put its fans on an emotional rollercoaster since 2006, it all came full circle June 1, 2012.
Fifty years, 8,020 games and 35 one-hitters later, Johan Santana did it. This is what being a fan is about. It’s rewarding, frustrating. It’s about passion.
Believe it.
