New York Mets Match 50-Year Hitless Record in Doubleheader

The New York Mets managed to split a doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers, but along the way they did something no team had done in 50 years.

Apr 1, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) hits a double / John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets didn’t want to play a doubleheader on Thursday, but the weather forced them into a doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers. Along the way, the Mets finally won their first game, beating the Tigers in the second game, 2-1.

Along the way, the Tigers put the Mets in a bind in Game 2 as Tigers starter Matt Manning set the Tigers on the path to a combined no-hitter and Tyler Holton took it over but lost it with one out in the eighth inning with a single by the Mets’ Harrison Bader.

That helped set up the Mets to win the game in the ninth on Tyrone Taylor’s walk-off single, which scored Brett Baty.

That wasn’t the historical part. The historical part actually started in Game 1. That contest, which the Tigers won, 6-3, went 11 innings. The Mets had a 3-0 lead after five innings but lost the lead and the game went to extra innings. Along the way, the Mets failed to get a hit after that fifth inning.

With the six innings without a hit in Game 1, combined with the seven full innings of hitless baseball in Game 2, the Mets became the first team in 50 years to play 13 or more consecutive innings without a hit on a single day, per OptaStats.

While that happened, Pete Alonso hit a solo home run in the ninth inning, a home run that started the comeback in Game 2 With that, Alonso became the 10th New York Mets player to reach 500 RBI with the franchise.

The Mets are headed to Cincinnati for a three-game series with the Reds that start on Friday.