ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – R.A. Dickey nearly gave the New York Mets their second no-hitter in two weeks.

Now that would have been something — especially considering it took them more than 50 years to pitch their first one.

Dickey allowed only an infield single during his second career one-hitter and broke the franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings in a 9-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.

The knuckleballer became the first 10-game winner in the majors, set a career best with 12 strikeouts and did not walk a batter. The only hit the Rays managed came when speedy B.J. Upton hit a high bouncer in the first inning that third baseman David Wright was unable to field with his bare hand.

Mets Manager Terry Collins said the team would appeal the official scorer’s ruling on Upton’s hit to the commissioner’s office, but conceded it probably wouldn’t change the result.

“We said in the ninth inning that we’ve got to appeal that play. We’re probably not going to win it, but … what the heck,” Collins said. “What have you got to lose except to have somebody say no?”

Advertisement

Johan Santana held St. Louis hitless on June 1, the first no-hitter in the Mets’ 51-year history. Dickey was just as dominant Wednesday — if not more so.

“If anybody deserved a no-hitter or a perfect game tonight, it was him,” Collins said.

Dickey (10-1) ran his career-best shutout streak to 32 2/3 innings before yielding an unearned run in the ninth. That topped the previous club mark of 31 2/3 scoreless innings in a row set by Jerry Koosman in 1973.

ORIOLES 7, PIRATES 1: Substitute starter Jake Arrieta struck out nine over seven steady innings, Wilson Betemit had a season-high three hits and drove in three runs, and host Baltimore won its fourth straight.

Arrieta was demoted to the bullpen but was the logical replacement for scheduled starter Brian Matusz, who fouled a baseball off his nose Tuesday during bunting practice.

TIGERS 8, CUBS 4: Jhonny Peralta had three hits and two RBI one night after he made two costly throwing errors, and Detroit rallied to win at Chicago.

Advertisement

Brennan Boesch had four hits, including a solo homer, and made a diving catch in right field as the Tigers improved to 8-1 in their last nine games against the Cubs.

PHILLIES 9, TWINS 8: Jim Thome drove in four runs against his former team, including a long homer to pad the lead, as Philadelphia won at Minneapolis.

REDS 5, INDIANS 3: Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs in Cincinnati’s home win.

NATIONALS 6, BLUE JAYS 2: Stephen Strasburg won his fifth straight start, Tyler Moore hit the first two home runs of his career and Washington completed a three-game sweep at Toronto.

YANKEES 3, BRAVES 2: Curtis Granderson had a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning and the visiting New York Yankees won their sixth straight.

CARDINALS 1, WHITE SOX 0: Lance Lynn struck out a career-high 12 to stay tied for the major league lead in wins (10) and Carlos Beltran hit his NL-best 19th home run as St. Louis ended Chicago’s eight-game road winning streak.

RANGERS 1, DIAMONDBACKS 0: Craig Gentry hit a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning and Matt Harrison combined with two relievers on a six-hitter as Texas beat visiting Arizona.

ROYALS 4, BREWERS 3: Mike Moustakas walked with the bases loaded in the 11th inning, giving Kansas City a come-from-behind win at home.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.