Dickey pitches another one-hit gem

NEW YORK (AFP) –

File photo shows New York Mets’ R.A. Dickey during a game on June 13. Dickey pitched his second straight one-hitter on June 18, striking out a career-high 13 batters with two walks as the Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-0.

R.A. Dickey pitched his second straight one-hitter, striking out a career-high 13 batters with two walks as the New York Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-0.

Dickey, a 37-year-old knuckleballer, improved to 11-1 as he pitched his third complete Major League Baseball game in his last four starts.

“I always hoped for a good knuckleball, and that’s what I’m producing right now.” said Dickey, who became the first National League pitcher since Boston Braves’ Jim Tobin in 1944 to allow one hit or fewer in back-to-back complete games.

“There is a reason he is 11-1 now. He is throwing the ball well,” Baltimore outfielder Chris Davis said.

On Friday, Major League Baseball rejected an appeal by the Mets and upheld the official scoring of a victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, in which Dickey was given a one-hit win.

The Mets had wanted MLB to reverse the official scorer’s decision on a first-inning infield single by Tampa Bay’s B.J. Upton, arguing that Mets’ third baseman David Wright committed an error on the play.

Dickey retired the next 22 Tampa Bay batters, striking out 12 without issuing a walk, until an actual error by Wright in the ninth, and never allowed another hit.

Had the Mets’ appeal been successful, Dickey’s effort last Wednesday would have been only the second no-hitter in the club’s 50-year history.