A total of five pitchers to throw a shutout. Welcome to baseball in the 21st century!

Unlike the 2011 home opener when it was a cold, raw cloudy 40 degrees; Mets fans were treated to a sunny yet breezy 60 degrees. Had my usual Blue Smoke Kansas City Ribs (They downsized the ribs from '11), etc and the opening day ceremonies were emotional with Gary Carter's widow and 3 children throwing out the first pitch. Johan Santana looked pretty decent pitching 5 scoreless innings and then the bullpen shut down the Braves as David Wright drove in the only run in a HAPPY RECAP to start the Mets 50th anniversary. (FYI, The Mets 50th logo kinda looks like the Warner Bros.) The only downside was that Flushing guy who got voted off American Idol sang "God Bless America"; I was hoping that the Mets would've gotten the talented Pia Toscano to do the gig. Lets face it: Pia is way better looking!

Bark in the Park Day. 429 dogs in attendance. Pelfrey on top of his game. Wild finish.

From Elias: Two firsts worth noting from the Giants-Mets game:

1. There was an odd infield single with 2 on and 1 out in the 9th inning of the Mets game today. It resulted from second baseman Aubrey Huff not covering second base on a ground ball to shortstop. It was Huff's first MLB game played at second base in his 1,641-game career.

2. This was the first win in Mets history in which the game ended on an error by the opposing catcher.

YOU GOTTA BELIEVE!

I was so pumped about this game! Mets going for the sweep! Reyes had an awful series! Citi Field was empty, I guess being that there was a threat of rain and it was an afternoon game. I sat in section 413 behind home plate with a friend. The rain held off until later in the game. Mets jumped out to an early lead after Nieuwenhuis tripled and Tejada hit a sacrifice fly to get him home. Neise looked great even though he gave up a homer. Then...the 9th inning! Heath Bell fell apart walking 4 and I just knew the Mets would win this game! Justin Turner was an unsung hero after battling Bell on 12 pitches he walks in the tying run and then...Nieuwenhuis was the hero!! Great game!!

This game was the first in many years that the Mets fielded a starting lineup that was entirely home grown from their farm system.

Jordany Valdespin hit a pinch hit three-run homer in the top of the ninth off Papelbon for his first major league hit and home run in this one.

This was a bad loss. Mets came back against Bell only to have Frank Francisco implode the next inning, literally when he got kicked out of the game. Remember listening to this game in the car on Mothers Day. Howie couldn't believe what he was seeing. Real bad loss on Mothers Day.

My good friend Pete gave me 2 tix for this one (Section 312) although I now wish the tickets were for June 1, 2012 for many reasons!!! But anyhow it was a nice way to start the Memorial Day Weekend as Dillon Gee pitched pretty good and Lucas Duda hits a screaming dinger off the Subway sandwich sign against a team that will NOT be confused with the 1989 Oakland A's. Plus I heard some great music before and after the game. The Mets did a cool thing by having the FDNY band which is also celebrating their 50th anniversary and I love listening to bagpipes; after the game as I was heading towards the PATH train, I stopped to listen to a great tribute band called THE MEETLES (which plays the music of the Fab Four but they also played songs from other groups as well). It's NOT the 1st time that I have heard them and my advice to Mets management for a post-game concert is to book the MEETLES instead of those 80's retreads REO Speedwagon or that Christian Boy Band MercyMe. All in all, a great night!

Amid rumors of Jeremy Hefner returning as pitching coach in 2020, I recall attending this game in a mostly unmemorable season, other than Santana's no-hitter, and Hefner hitting a home run, his only one for one of his two RBI in 52 career at-bats.

Three nights before Johan Santana's no-hitter, something else happened for the first time in Mets history in this game. Omar Quintanilla made his debut with the team, which gave him the distinction of being the first Met ever whose last name started with the letter Q. Omar turned out to be the hitting star with two doubles, a single and a pair of runs scored. Also, Jeremy Hefner recorded his first major league win and helped himself out with a home run of his own. A solid win with some Met firsts that, perhaps, served as a preview for the big one from Johan.

After 51 years and so many near misses, Johan Santana finally throws the first Met's no-no. And how ironic that Carlos Beltran almost gets the first hit but the ball is ruled foul. What makes it really special is that my son Jonathan is there to see it happen. Congraluations Johan for a great performance.

UNREAL EVERYONE! A Mets NO NO! 51 years of waiting, great pitchers, they got the monkey off their back! Thanx Johan Santana!

As a long time Met fan I am so happy to see them get their first no hitter in franchise history. I am even happier that it was done by Johan Santana whom in my opinion is the definition of class and professionalism. Every player on this roster needs to learn as much as he can from Santana and the way he conducts himself on and off the field. I have never heard the guy complain once about run support or blown saves. He simply is a true professional. Congrats Johan. You are the best.

Congratulations, Johan! The first Met to pitch a no-hitter. It's been a long time in coming.

This moment, in my opinion, is part of an ongoing process of Mets events never before experienced. At the end of the 2011 season, Jose Reyes became the first player in team history to win a batting title. Three days before this game, Omar Quintanilla came the team's first player with a Q at the beginning of his last name (no big thing, maybe, but still a Mets first.) And now Johan's no-hitter, striking out the World Series MVP to end it. A lot of great new things are coming to Citi Field that never came about at Shea Stadium.

What will be the Mets' next "first"? Well, the team has never had a player win the National League MVP Award. Perhaps we'll see this happen soon!

Congrats to Johan Santana and the NY Mets and us fans for finally experiencing the joy of a no hitter. It's awesome being a Mets fan today.

Watching today's game with the Mets now having pitched a no-hitter, I have a surreal sense of not knowing what to do with myself. I wonder if Red Sox fans felt anything like this after their team won the 2004 World Series, or White Sox fans after their team won in 2005.

Interesting comment by Gary Cohen that last night was a cathartic moment for Mets fans that helped ease the pain of the last 5 1/2 years going back to 2006, because Adam Wainwright, Carlos Beltran, and Yadier Molina were all involved.

Johan! What a class act. A warrior on the mound. Saluted the fans then said he did it for us. Tears in my eyes. A lifetime of waiting. Got to watch with my boys (9 and 10). Baseball is life!

In the words of Crosby, Stills and Nash: "It's been a long time coming". I've been on cloud 9 ever since the last out. It's like signing up for a cooking lesson and your teacher is Rachael Ray, it's like you're at the beach and the woman that asks you to rub suntan lotion on her looks like Aunt Meg from the movie "Hall Pass" etc. Big props for the Mets defense for playing a crisp game especially Mike Baxter and for most of you IGNORANT WORSHIPERS OF THE 27TH FEDERATED CHURCH OF SATAN IN THE BRONX who have said that it was a one-hitter; I HAVE THIS TO SAY: DEAL WITH IT, GET OVER IT, AND GO RUN OUT ON A SIX LANE HIGHWAY BLINDFOLDED AND THEN SOME!!!!!! Viva Santana!!!!!

What an amazing ride this game was at the end. Baxter's legendary catch off Molina's drive in the seventh inning will live forever in our hearts. In the eighth, there were those weird plays that Quintanilla was involved in, the first that Nieuwenhuis caught, and the second one that Murphy caught to end the eighth. That play was just crazy to listen to on the radio, because Howie said Quintanilla caught it, then he corrected himself and said Murphy actually did.

The ninth inning was even more unreal. I thought it was over when Holliday hit that broken-bat liner to Torres, but Torres got it. I thought it was over when Craig hit that looper to Nieuwenhuis, but it was out number two. I thought it was over when the count on Freese went to 3-0. Johan fought back. He threw a strike down the middle, induced a foul grounder that had the Mets one strike away, and then got him swinging to make history.

What a moment that was. I just couldn't believe my own ears. Howie was at the top of his game. His call said it all: "Put it in the books! In the History books!" Classic.

What a game. There really are no words to describe it.

It took 51 years to get a no hitter, and the baseball gods made it near perfect. For one, it was at home for real fans to witness. 2. It was against a long time rival who has broken our hearts many times. (1985, 1987, 2006 seasons for staters.) Also remember that in 1962, the Cardinals gave us our first loss in our first game ever. 3. The game was a real Met broadcast on SNY, and WFAN radio with REAL Mets broadcasters calling the final pitch. (Howie and Gary of course) 4. Finally... It was Johan Santana coming of a near career-ending surgery to gut it through.

I never was happier than that game. I had no expectations from this season. This game gave me hope. Johan and Dickey are an amazing 1-2 punch. Why not this year??

More on the no-no: Howie on WFAN was ahead of Gary on SNY due to the 7 second delay and Gary's call of "IT HAS HAPPENED" will be giving me goosebumps for the rest of my life!!

This game was a sign that R. A. Dickey was on his way to the Cy Young Award. He had a tough act to follow with Johan Santana's no-hitter coming the previous night. Dickey provided a great encore to Santana's classic with a shutout for his sixth straight winning decision. He even drove home the Mets' first run when he reached on an error with the bases loaded!

How does one respond when taking the mound right after his team's first ever no-hitter? By pitching a scoreless complete game that includes nine strikeouts (one more than Santana had the night before) and his own game-winning RBI. That's the kind of season R. A. had in 2012.

OUCH!!! Rough one for the Amazin's where Johan followed the historic no-no by having a Home Run Derby type performance where he gave up 4 Bronx Evil Empire dingers. But the lowlight of the game had to be where Nick Swisher started acting like a brazen brat in the Stankee dugout; If either Paul LoDuca, John Stearns or Jerry Grote were behind the plate for the Mets, I'll tell you that Nick would be in the intensive care unit until 2017. Let's hope that the Mets pitchers give that bratty Nick some 90+ mph chin music and maybe he can act like a professional ball player and NOT like his wife Joanna Garcia's Sandy Sue character from "Not Another Teen Movie".

Dickey was more dominant than any Mets pitcher so far including Johan. He allowed a slow grounder which I think if Wright used the glove and threw quickly, Upton would have been out. In my book, he got 29 outs in a row. Amazing.

One of the most dominant pitching performances by a Mets pitcher that I can remember.

I might be wrong, but I believe that Matt Harvey against the White Sox (May 7, 2013, game score 97) was the most dominant performance since David Cone struck out 19 on October 6 1991 (game score 99). By comparison, Seaver's game score on July 9, 1969 was 96. In either of his two Cy Young-winning seasons, Jacob deGrom never achieved a game score of over 90 (he did however accrue a game score of 98 on April 23, 2021, which I missed because I had to work).

Anyway, back to R.A. dominating the Rays on June 13, 2012. Aside from one slow roller in the first inning that David Wright misplayed, R.A. was untouchable that day. His 9 IP, 12 K, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB earned him a game score of 95. 

Amazingly, R.A.'s next start against Baltimore, he topped this start with a game score of 96, and I don't even remember that game. But I remember how dominant he was in this one, and I listened to it on the radio. This game (Tampa broadcast) is available on YouTube by the way. 

If only Wright had handled that BJ Upton grounder with his glove instead of trying to barehand it, the Mets might have had two no-hitters in a span of two weeks after not having one for 50 years.

Was at this game Never saw a more dominant game by a Mets pitcher ever.

I was at this game. The team had a social media day and allowed certain fans to watch batting practice from the warning track. It was chilly and cool at game time but Dickey had his knuckleball working. The Orioles looked helpless against Dickey and Ike Davis hit a grand slam.

A highly productive game for the Mets that featured a Home Run Cycle in the middle innings. Daniel Murphy connected for a two-run homer in the fourth and Ike Davis supplied a three-run blast in the fifth. Murphy added a solo shot in the fifth and Scott Hairston slugged a grand slam in the sixth. It was the third time in team history that the Mets had all four kinds of home runs in one game.

First game at CitiField on the 4th of July but otherwise forgettable.

This was the best Mets game I have ever been to in my 12 years of being a fan. Citi was was absolutely rocking that night. Mets down a run down to their last strike multiple times and they never gave up until Wright got the walk-off single! The real fun that you'll never see on TV is how much the Mets fans heckled the Phillies fans. After 5 years of abuse from the Phillies, Mets fans finally got to have some revenge. We were walking down the stairs screaming LAST PLACE PHILLIES and Phillies fans couldn't do anything but sulk outta NY. It was a great night that I'll never forget!

My entire family, well, 14 of us went to the game. My parents, in their eighties, down to their grandchildren in their teens. We got to watch a great game that had everything: R.A. Dickey pitching, not his best, but good enough; home runs by David Wright and Scott Hairston; and then an amazing come-from-behind win with a walk-off bases loaded single in the ninth inning. It was the Mets at their 50 year best. My parents received congratulatory calls when the Mets won the 1969 World Series. Lets Go Mets!

Called in sick from work and at 3pm decided to head out to Citi Field. Got a $25 seat in section 537 (a Bob Uecker seat) etc. Before the game I ran into my good friend Kathy, her mom who was visiting from Florida and Kathy's son Adam. Plus I saw my beautiful friend Julie who I have known for many years (also both of our late mothers were co-workers).

Rough outing for No-Han as he gave up a few dingers and wound up hurting his ankle.

FYI, I am taking to task the fans who show up to Mets games wearing T- shirts and hats of other sports teams (NFL Jets, NFL Giants etc; I even saw a guy wearing a New York Islanders hat and shirt) Also there are a quite few "people" who show up wearing the GARBAGE stuff (aka The New York Stankees). If it was a Subway Series game, that would be different but it was Mets vs Cubs (There were the usual many North Side supporters thanks to WGN America). As a public service announcement, I request to you Evil Empire fans if you go to a Mets game that is NOT the Subway Series; LEAVE THE STANKEES CRAP AT HOME; THANK YOU! I am also taking to task the PA system for blasting the current noise that play (i.e the American Idol/Radio Disney diarrhea they call music); NOT EVERYBODY IN THE STANDS IS 12 YEARS OLD!!!! I give 2 THUMBS WAY UP to Kirk #9 for having the Motor City Madman and for Lucas Duda for playing Hendrix as their at-bat songs. BTW, BRING BACK THE "CURLY SHUFFLE".

We took the family to this game which was at 4 PM on Saturday because it was televised by FOX. It was 94 degrees at gametime and the Mets actually had cooling stations around the stadium at which you could get free ice. The ball boys offered the Umps bottled water between innings.

Fortunately, Marshall Dillon was at his best, walking none and scattering hits over 8 innings and the game moved along to finish in just over 2.5 hours - ending on a 101 MPH fastball by Bobby P for a strikeout. Ike Davis crushed a two-run homer that hit the facade with the Pepsi sign above us in the rightfield stands.

To Ed K: The game was on SNY because FOX had the Saturday Night Game at 7:00pm.

Ugh. I had high hopes for the 2012 Mets entering the second half of the season but as always they see a promising season which they began with low expectations begin to crumble at Turner Field. This game was a disaster and this whole series was a disaster.

Until this game, the last time I wanted to smash my TV into pieces because of a Mets loss was the infamous Luis Castillo dropped pop fly vs the Yankees. Rookie sensation Jordany Valdespin hits a 3-run homer at a difficult place to hit one (Nats Park) then the great law firm of Parnell, Byrdak and Beato practically give the game away as "Brat" Harper hits a triple!!! As I refuse to call Larry Jones "Chipper"; I refuse to call Harper "Bryce" because he has potential to be the next Willie Mays or the next Angelica Pickles from the "RUGRATS" cartoon. A tough loss indeed and if the 2012 Mets don't see serious October baseball, this will be one of these games why!!!

I was at this game, and after attending ballgames since 1969, I finally got a foul ball! 'Twas Daniel Murphy who provided me with the treasured souvenir.

I attended this game at Chase Field. Ike Davis hit three home runs in his first three at-bats, but unfortunately for the Mets, he hit all of his home runs with the bases empty and the Mets could score no other runs. His first two home runs were nearly identical, both deep shots above the line on the wall in center field. His third home run was a line drive down the right field line into the Mets' bullpen.

Trailing 6-3 in the top of the seventh, David Wright led off with a walk. Davis followed with a chance to hit his fourth home run, and he delivered a single. The Mets were now threatening with two runners on base and none out, but failed to score.

The Mets had one last chance to go ahead in the top of the ninth, but with two men on and two out, Wright struck out while Davis was waiting on deck.

Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero had the biggest hit, a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Diamondbacks pitchers struck out 15 Mets, including nine by starting and winning pitcher Ian Kennedy.

Mike Baxter set a team record by walking five times in a nine-inning game!

Just another loss for the Mets in 2012. McHugh was outstanding. I hope he continues to be while pitching at Citi Field.

Best part of the day was Gabby Douglas throwing out the first pitch. She looks as good in a Mets jersey as she does in a leotard. Well, almost!

I saw this game from the Pepsi Porch along with about 22,000 others getting a tan on a warm summer afternoon. I brought my transistor so I was able to get a little commentary.

McHugh had a sharp curve and a straight fastball. His debut was most impressive. However to give up only 1 run and lose...let's just hope this is not a harbinger of the future.

I hadn't been to Citi Field since before the All- Star break and I didn't want to be stuck inside on a beautiful late August afternoon so I headed to the game and I did something I usually don't do: I bought a 300 section seat from a scalper for $40 and I breathed a sigh of relief when the ticket turned out to be legit!!! It was the Ike Davis show as he hit 2 dingers including the walk off in the 9th as the Astros played their last game vs the Mets as a NL member (Houston is moving to the tough AL West next year).

This was a FOX Saturday game that started at 4:00 pm and since many of the other Fox broadcasters were prepping for the NFL the next day, the announcers for this game were Kevin Burkhardt of SNY and baseball writer Tom Verducci. Not exactly Gary, Keith and Ron and NOT exactly Murph, Ralph and Lindsay. OUCH!!!!

This was much worse than the Phillies 26-7 blowout in June 1985, at least they were a pretty good team at the time. This game was a makeup game from a Tuesday rainout with maybe a few thousand diehards in the stands. They moved the radio broadcast to WBBR-1130 because the N.Y. Giants game was on WFAN. Poor Jeremy Hefner couldn't even get one out; they used everyone in the bullpen except for Pete Falcone, Dennis Cook and Oliver Perez LOL. I'll bet you dollars to donuts that this will NOT be a Mets Classic; in fact they'll probably burn any evidence of this fiasco (even Mike Baxter's token HR) but when the New York Mets go back into the postseason in 2013 (Just look at Oakland and Baltimore this year) Mets fans will look back on Sept 20, 2012 as the low point in the Sandy Alderson era!

For my final visit to Citi in 2012, it was fantastic!! Ran into a couple of A's fans heading to the Bronx to take on the Evil Empire and I gave them some advice: BE CAREFUL. Got off the 7 train and I saw that the New York Lottery was there again and I met Yolanda Vega for the 2nd straight year, Without a doubt, she is a stunningly beautiful woman. WFAN's Joe Beningo has often said that his fantasies DON'T involve sports and since this is a family website I will keep my fantasies about me and Yolanda to myself.

The ballpark had plenty of pre-game stuff from fans walking their dogs to cheerleaders from grade school to the Jets Flight Crew doing their rah-rah stuff. R.A. was great until he got into some trouble in the 9th and Jon Rauch almost blew it but all turned out well as he got the last out. Even the maligned Jason Bay hit a home run right near the Apple. I know 2012 hasn't turned out the way that it should have but I know in my heart and the heart of the millions of loyal Mets fans: Better and brighter days are coming and the New York Mets will return to prominence and glory in the New York baseball (and sports) scene and that crooked, pop a pill and hit a home run outfit in the Bronx will be in the gutter! Let's go Mets!

Finally, a meaningful September game. RA Dickey becomes the first Met 20-game winner in 22 years. Couldn't happen to a better guy, with a storybook ending to a great story. But as usual it wasn't easy. Pirate Travis Snider made what my son described as 'the catch of the year' right in front of us to rob Mike Baxter of a HR. Then the bullpen did it's best to try to throw away another win. But with Wright and Davis providing the power the Mets finally won an important game. There is hope for 2013, well at least every 5th day! Good luck to RA Dickey on his Cy Young quest he so richly deserves.