Remembering Mets History (2010) R.A. Dickey Tosses His First Complete Game One Hitter

 Friday August 13th, 2010: This year marked the second season of baseball at Citi Field, with the Mets going 79-83 finishing fourth to disappoint their fans once again. 

That pitching staff was led by Mike Pelfrey (15-9) followed by Johan Santana & R.A. Dickey who both notched eleven victories with nine losses. R.A. Dickey the knuckle baller, would lead the club in ERA with 2.84. 

Tonight, Jerry Manuel's third place Mets (57-57) were at .500 as they took on Charlie Manuel's second place Phillies (64-51). 

A big Citi Field crowd of 35,440 saw R.A. Dickey (7-5) take on the Phillies Cole Hamels (7-8) one of the most hated visiting players of that era. Mets fans referred to him as Hole Camels.

In the top of the 1st inning, Dickey struck out Placido Polanco & Raul Ibanez. In the 2nd he got two-line drive outs, then a grounder to Mike Hessman at first from Shane Victorino to end the inning. 

In the 3rd R.A. issued his only walk of the game, a one out a free pass to Wilson Valdes. Hamels then popped up trying to bunt & Jimmy Rollins popped up to third to end the inning.

In the top of the 5th, Dickey struck out Jason Werth & Shane Victorino, to start the inning then got Brian Schneider to hit a come backer to the mound.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, as Cole Hamels was blanking the Mets, Mike Hessman lost a HR to a video replay reversal resulting to a triple. Cole Hamels then struck out Jeff Francoeur & Henry Blanco. Ruben Tejada was walked to get to R.A. Dickey who grounded back to the mound leaving Hessman stranded on third.

In the top of the 6th, the fans were aware that Dickey had the no hitter going as they hung on very pitch. He first struck out Wilson Alvarez to start the inning. 

Then the pitcher Cole Hamels, a .146 hitter entering tonight's game, spoiled the no hit bid with a single to right field. Right fielder Jeff Francoeur actually thought of trying to throw out Hamels but realized he had no play.

This would be the only hit that Dickey would allow that evening, as he retired the next eleven batters in a row, six on fly balls, four ground ball outs & a strike out.

In the bottom of the 6th inning, with two outs, the Mets got back-to-back doubles from David Wright, his 29th double of the year then Carlos Beltran with his sixth, scoring Wright with was to be the only run of the game.

Dickey would finish off the complete game, one hit shut out, striking out seven & walking just one to earn his 8th win of the year holding one of the leagues best ERA's at 2.43.

Trivia: In the last four matchups at Citi Field, Mets pitchers had blanked the Phillies each time. 

In late May they swept a three game series shutting out the Phil's in each game, with R.A. Dickey getting the first win in the stretch.

Quotes- R.A. Dickey: "I knew from the way it felt out of my hand, I had a chance for a special night".

Trivia: This was the 35th one hitter thrown by a Mets pitcher in franchise history. Earlier that season, Jonathon Niese pitched a complete game one hitter. In 2012, Dickey would throw two more complete one hitters, coming in back-to-back starts.

Dickey spent three seasons with the Mets (2010-2012) going an over all 39-28 with a 2.95 ERA. In 2012 he won the Cy Young Award going 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA, leading the league in strike outs (230) innings (233) complete games (5) shut outs (3) & starts (33).