R.A. Dickey Comes Within One Controversial Play of Mets’ Second No-Hitter

Usually, the talk is of umpires taking away no hitters — or, such as in the case of Johan Santana, possibly giving one away. However, baseball has found a new way to affect the no hitter in ways that are beyond the control of the players.

Usually, the official scorekeeper is one of the most overlooked people in the ballpark, as their impact on the game can only be statistical, never affecting the outcome. However, there are those rare moments when a scoring decision becomes controversial, and the New York Mets may have ignited such a controversy after Wednesday night’s 9-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

When all was said and done, Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey allowed just one baserunner during his complete game, 12-strikeout performance. That one baserunner, however, reached on a contrversial first-inning hit in which Rays outfielder B.J. Upton hit a slow bouncer up the third base line to the Mets’ David Wright. Wright tried to barehand the ball to catch the speedy Upton at first, but it bounced off his hand.

The official scorekeeper ruled the play a hit, meaning Upton would have reached anyway or, if Wright had made the play, it would have been more than a routine out. However, after latently realizing the importance of the play nine innings later, Mets manager Terry Collins said that the team may well appeal the call.

The Mets were one play away from having their second no hitter of the month after not pitching one in the first 50 years of their existence. However, as sweet as it might be to be credited with a no-hitter retroactively, Dickey can’t go back in time for an emotional embrace from his catcher and the rest of his teammates.

Photo of the Night

Burton Robinson, son of Seattle Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson, joins his father at Seahwaks minicamp.

Quote of the Night

“The streaks and the special things that happen along the way are just the manifestation of that, of wanting to be consistent and wanting to really be good at my craft.”
-R.A. Dickey after his one-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays

Tweet of the Night

Video of the Night

Apparently, they’ve found a new way to get high in San Francisco.