VIDEO: Remembering When Umpires Gave Johan Santana a No-Hitter 8 Years Ago With Bad Call on Carlos Beltran
By Scott Rogust
New York Mets fans woke up in a good mood on Monday morning, as it's the eight-year anniversary of pitcher Johan Santana throwing the franchise's first (and only) no-hitter. Mets faithful remember where they were when they witnessed Santana toss 134 pitches to silence the St. Louis Cardinals bats. We hate to rain on the Mets' parade, though, but we can't forget that the umpires gifted them the no-hitter in the sixth inning.
Sorry, but this simply has to be brought to everyone's attention.
In the top of the sixth, Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran laced a ball to third base, which was called foul. Meanwhile, replay cameras showed that the ball actually bounced on foul line and kicked up chalk, making it fair. It was too little, too late, as Beltran grounded out on the very next pitch.
Then-Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was incensed with the decision, and gave the third base umpire an earful. You really know it's a terrible call when even the Mets commentary team uttered, "That's fair," in complete unison. And that very ruling cost the Cardinals a chance to prevent a no-hitter.
We apologize, Mets fans, but It would be ignorant of us to gloss over this blemish on Santana's accomplishment.