ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The sign in center field at Tropicana Field reads “City of St. Petersburg Welcomes You.” It will be amended today to include “Except you, R.A. Dickey.”
But the Mets knuckleballer isn’t too popular in any road ballparks these days. Last night he pitched a complete game one-hitter — but finally allowed a run — helping the Mets roll to a 9-1 victory over the Rays.
Dickey took a shutout to the ninth before a throwing error by David Wright and two passed balls by catcher Mike Nickeas helped the Rays score a run, ending Dickey’s scoreless streak at a franchise record 32 2/3 innings. Dickey eclipsed the mark set by Jerry Koosman, who pitched 31 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings for the Mets in 1973.
B.J. Upton’s infield single in the first inning accounted for the Rays’ only hit — Wright went for the bare-handed play on the slow grounder and missed.
Manager Terry Collins said the Mets intend to appeal the scoring decision with the commissioner’s office in hopes it will be changed to an error, but acknowledged it’s unlikely the call will be overturned.
“It was a game where I really didn’t have a regret,” said Dickey, who struck out a career-high 12 and did not walk a batter in becoming the first pitcher in the major leagues to reach 10 victories.
“I don’t think I would be credible if I said I didn’t think about pitching in the All-Star Game or a chance to be the best pitcher in the big leagues. Of course it creeps into my mind from time to time and it’s a motivator. I do want to be the best. But I don’t allow it to affect what I do or how I prepare.”
Tampa Bay Times/ZUMAPRESS.com
R.A. Dickey watches as third baseman David Wright misplays a B.J. Upton hit, the Rays' only hit in the game.
Dickey retired 22 straight batters after Upton’s single, before a Wright throwing error on Elliot Johnson’s grounder to open the ninth helped the Rays score an unearned run and end Dickey’s scoreless inning streak. Two passed balls by Nickeas sent Johnson to third before a Desmond Jennings grounder scored the run.
“We’re two plays from a perfect game,” Collins said. “I’ve seen a lot of things, but I have not seen a perfecto. But today I saw as close to that as I’ve seen in my 42 years. It was just truly amazing.”
Dickey (10-1, 2.20 ERA) said he probably would joke with Wright today about the play on Upton’s grounder in the first inning, but he isn’t holding out much hope for a scoring reversal.
Wright said it was a difficult play.
“I tried to make the play and I didn’t make it,” Wright said. “I don’t think I could have gotten him with the glove and I tried to bare-hand. It hit the lip and skipped on me and I didn’t make the play. If they want to go back and give me an error they can do that.”
Surprisingly, Dickey's masterpiece was the second-best pitching performance of the night. Following the completion of the Mets' game, San Francisco Giants hurler Matt Cain threw a perfect game, the 22nd in Major League history.
The Mets broke their game open in the sixth with four runs to take a 7-0 lead. Omar Quintanilla’s two-run single was the big hit after Ike Davis and Vinny Rottino had each delivered a run-scoring single.
Daniel Murphy’s two-run single in the fifth against David Price (8-4) had boosted the Mets’ lead to 3-0 after Nickeas snapped an 0-for-14 with an RBI single.
J. Meric/Getty Images
R.A. Dickey threw a complete game one-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday, running his scoreless streak to 32 2/3 innings -- a new Mets record.
Dickey strengthened in the middle innings — he needed just nine pitches in each of the fifth and sixth innings to retire the Rays after striking out the side in the fourth.
Wright is among the Mets players in awe of Dickey’s recent run, which includes 58 strikeouts and four walks over his last six starts.
“He’s at a different level right now,” Wright said. “It just seems like each outing he’s getting better and better and it’s fun to be a part of.”
mpuma@nypost.com
David Wright, David Wright, St. Petersburg Welcomes, Mets, Mets, the Mets online, the Mets, Rays, ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dickey, Dickey, the Rays, the Rays, scoreless streak, scoreless streak, Mike Nickeas, B.J. Upton, Tampa Bay Rays
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder