Our no #nohitter count climbs to 7,599 #Mets games without a no-no on the Giants’ Fred Lewis’ fourth-inning double off Mike Pelfrey.
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Though the July 14, 2001 technically wasn’t a no-hitter, it really was. As I remember, the first batter reached on an error by the first baseman. The next batter bunted the ball to the first baseman (I think Harris) and he just froze there. He could have thrown to second (the runner might have been safe or out), but at worst, it would have been a fielder’s choice, not a hit; or he could have EASILY beat Nixon to the first base bag. In either case, no hit. Any regular first baseman (Harris was filling in at first that day) could have easily made that play. Instead, Harris just froze there and Nixon got a gift hit (he didn’t throw or second nor run to first). I have always felt he should have been given an error.
PS – I may be wrong about the player’s name, but I’m pretty sure it was Harris. Please check it, and give me your opinion of the play.
If I recall, Rusch didn’t get off the mound to cover first and pretty much took the blame for that play. Second-baseman Edgardo Alfonzo tried to hustle to cover the bag, but Lenny Harris’ throw bounced off Alfonzo’s glove and Chris Stynes was able to advance to third (which is why it was scored a hit and an error).
Either way, a heck of a way to lose a no-no.
A little side note – that game was Bobby Valentine’s 1,000th career victory.
I didn’t remember him throwing the ball to Alfonzo, but then shouldn’t it have been a fielder’s choice (and an error)?
I guess technically it could have been scored a fielder’s choice, although officials scorers typically use the designation when a runner reaches first from a fielder throwing to a different base. I looked up the official definition and it could have been applied in this case, though. I guess if it had happened in the seventh or eighth inning with a no-no still going, the official scorer would have looked to get a little creative. In the first inning of a Mets’ game, there’s probably little thought that a no-hitter is even possible. I’d be interesting to track down who that official scorer was and see if he has any regrets about how he scored that. Of course, if it was ruled an error, how well would have Rusch (and the rest of the Mets) survived the late-inning pressure? Would he have pitched the ninth? So many variables.