NO HITTER!!!!!!! MLICKI NO HITS THE GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Dave Mlicki delivers a pitch during the 8th inning.



Dave Mlicki is a back of the rotation starter- questionable in spring training to make the team; and on a cool crisp day at shea stadium, he did something only one other man has done before. The Cleveland Indians' Bob Feller left the Chicago White Sox hitless on Apr 16, 1940, and 57 years later, Dave Mlicki of the New York Mets joins that sacred list tossing 9 innings of no-hit ball to stun the Giants and turn Shea Stadium into a party. A party with 35,000+ screaming, shrieking after every pitch, gritting their teeth- and after Vizcaino's ground out in the 9th, a massive eruption heard around Queens.  The second opening day no-hitter in baseball history. The partisan crowd cheered every San Francisco out from the 7th inning on. He walked 3 San Francisco batters. The New York (NL) players and coaches started to leave Mlicki alone with his thoughts after the game reached the 7th inning. By the time the 9th inning rolled around, you could hear a pin drop every time he went to his wind-up - and an explosion after every out. San Francisco could do no damage in the 9th. Terry Mulholland(1-1) absorbed the loss. It took a while to pry Mlicki away from his teammates as they all wanted to show their appreciation and joy. Finally, however, Eric Graham got to offer his own congratulations with a big bear hug and the comment, 'That was one of the best pitched games I have seen in all my years in baseball - Mlicki was masterful out there this afternoon!'

"I'm  holding back tears, I was shaking during the dugout in the 9th inning. This is, I cant even describe it.... this is amazing. I'm so fucking proud, he pitched his ass off out there, our defense stepped up, jesus christ...a no-hitter" Graham stated. "We were aware of what was going on in the 7th, I didn't think it would happen, he just kept mowing down hitters, it was... fate, I cant even describe how I feel right now. Jesus fucking christ I honestly cant believe this, in our home opener, in front of 35,000 fans. I cant..... [sobbing] fucking believe this. Im sorry" Graham said noticeably choked up.

Mlicki was reached for comment in the clubhouse, soaked in beer from his teammates. "Man, I cant believe what I just did, this was a total team effort, my defense bailed me out several times...and thats what this is all about man... this is a team, it hasnt really hit me yet what just happened, probably wont til' I show up for work tomorrow... this is incredible"


This game will forever be etched in Shea Stadium history, and baseball history.

Congratulations Dave Mlicki on your no-hitter.




Strat-O-Matic Report

---

BOXSCORE: 1997 San Francisco Giants At 1997 New York (NL) Mets      4/12/1997
 
  Giants             AB  R  H RBI AVG     Mets               AB  R  H RBI AVG
  D.Hamilton CF       4  0  0  0 .296     E.Alfonzo 3B        4  2  1  0 .308  
  J.Vizcaino SS       4  0  0  0 .267     B.McRae CF          3  1  1  2 .171  
  B.Bonds LF          2  0  0  0 .300     J.Olerud 1B         4  0  3  0 .306  
  J.Kent 2B           2  0  0  0 .290     T.Hundley C         3  0  0  0 .167  
  J.Snow 1B           3  0  0  0 .211     B.Gilkey LF         4  0  1  0 .235  
  G.Hill RF           3  0  0  0 .364     B.Huskey RF         4  0  0  0 .132  
  B.Mueller 3B        2  0  0  0 .348     C.Baerga 2B         3  0  1  0 .184  
  B.Johnson C         3  0  0  0 .194     R.Ordonez SS        3  0  0  0 .235  
  T.Mulholland P      1  0  0  0 .000     D.Mlicki P          3  0  1  0 .200  
A-S.Javier PH         1  0  0  0 .200                                          
  K.Foulke P          0  0  0  0 .000                                          
B-R.Aurilia PH        1  0  0  0 .167                                          
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      26  0  0  0                 Totals      31  3  8  2
 
A-Pinch Hit For Mulholland In 6th Inning
B-Pinch Hit For Foulke In 9th Inning
 
Giants.......... 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  0  0  1
Mets............ 0 0 2  0 1 0  0 0    -  3  8  1
 
Giants (6-3)             IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
T.Mulholland LOSS(1-1)    5       8   3   3   1   3   1  89   3.72  A1 C5
K.Foulke                  3       0   0   0   1   1   0  35   4.76  C6
Totals                    8       8   3   3   2   4   1
 
Mets (7-3)               IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
D.Mlicki WIN(2-0)         9       0   0   0   3   6   0 100   1.13  A1
Totals                    9       0   0   0   3   6   0
 
ATTENDANCE- 35,170 DATE- Saturday, April 12th 1997 TIME- Day WEATHER- Good
T- 2:35
LEFT ON BASE- Giants: 2  Mets: 6
DOUBLE PLAYS- Giants: 1  Mets: 1
ERRORS- G.Hill, J.Olerud
DOUBLES- J.Olerud-2(3rd), C.Baerga(1st)
TRIPLES- E.Alfonzo(1st)
HOME RUNS- B.McRae(2nd)
STOLEN BASES- B.Bonds(2nd)
CAUGHT STEALING- J.Vizcaino
WALKS- B.Bonds, J.Kent, B.Mueller, B.McRae, T.Hundley
STRIKE OUTS- D.Hamilton, J.Vizcaino-2, J.Kent, B.Johnson, T.Mulholland,
             T.Hundley, B.Huskey-2, D.Mlicki
GIDP- B.Johnson, C.Baerga
 

Tonights no hitter play by play

*** TOP OF INNING 1 ***
0     D.Hamilton  5- 9     5 Strike Out                     b-0 
1     J.Vizcaino  5- 9     3 Strike Out                     b-0 
2     B.Bonds     5-11     1 Ground Out                     b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 1 ***
0     E.Alfonzo   4-11     3 Ground Out                     b-0 
1     B.McRae     3- 4 16  4 Ground Out                     b-0 
2     J.Olerud    6- 8     3 Double                         b-2 
2  2  T.Hundley   6- 6     5 Strike Out                     b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 2 ***
0     J.Kent      3- 4  8  1 Ground Out                     b-0 
1     J.Snow      6- 9     3 Ground Out                     b-0 
2     G.Hill      3- 6     1 Pop Out                        b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 2 ***
0     B.Gilkey    4- 5     5 Single                         b-1 
0 1   B.Huskey    4- 7  5  4 Force Play                     1-o b-1 
1 1   C.Baerga    6- 7     1 Ground Out Double Play         1-o b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 3 ***
0     B.Mueller   2- 2     5 Foul Out                       b-0 
1     B.Johnson   5- 2     3 Ground Out                     b-0 
2     T.Mulhollan 2- 7     3 Strike Out                     b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 3 ***
0     R.Ordonez   5-11  8  1 Ground Out                     b-0 
1     D.Mlicki    1- 8 20  5 Single                         b-1 
1 1   E.Alfonzo   4-11     4 Force Play                     1-o b-1 
2 1   B.McRae     1- 2     6 Home Run                       1-H b-H 
2     J.Olerud    1- 6  6  5 Single                         b-1 
2 1   T.Hundley   3- 6     6 Walk                           1-2 b-1 
2 12  B.Gilkey    4- 4     1 Ground Out                     b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 4 ***
0     D.Hamilton  3- 3     5 Ground Out                     b-0 
1     J.Vizcaino  5- 7     5 Strike Out                     b-0 
2     B.Bonds     5-11     5 Ground Out                     b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 4 ***
0     B.Huskey    6- 6     4 Strike Out                     b-0 
1     C.Baerga    6- 8  9  5 Double                         b-2 
1  2  R.Ordonez   6-10     3 Fly Out                        b-0 
2  2  D.Mlicki    6- 6     3 Strike Out                     b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 5 ***
0     J.Kent      3- 5     3 Strike Out                     b-0 
1     J.Snow      1- 9     6 Fly Out                        b-0 
2     G.Hill      1-10     1 Fly Out                        b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 5 ***
0     E.Alfonzo   4- 3     5 Triple & Error - RF            b-H 
0     B.McRae     2- 3     2 Ground Out                     b-0 
1     J.Olerud    2- 5 20  8 Double                         b-2 
1  2  T.Hundley   6- 4     5 Foul Out                       b-0 
2  2  B.Gilkey    5-11 16  1 Pop Out                        b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 6 ***
0     B.Mueller   3- 5     6 Ground Out                     b-0 
1     B.Johnson   3- 7     3 Strike Out                     b-0 
                             SUBSTITUTE PH- Stan Javier
2     S.Javier    2- 4     1 Ground Out                     b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 6 ***
                             SUBSTITUTE P - Keith Foulke
0     B.Huskey    6- 6     3 Strike Out                     b-0 
1     C.Baerga    4- 2     6 Fly Out                        b-0 
2     R.Ordonez   6-10     6 Ground Out                     b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 7 ***
0     D.Hamilton  6-10     4 Pop Out                        b-0 
1     J.Vizcaino  5- 2     3 1 Base Error - 1B              b-1 
1 1                        1 Caught Stealing                1-o 
2     B.Bonds              0 Int Walk                       b-1 
2 1                        1 Stolen Base                    1-2 
2  2  J.Kent      1- 8     5 Walk                           b-1 
2 12  J.Snow      5- 3     3 Ground Out                     b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 7 ***
0     D.Mlicki    2- 4     3 Ground Out                     b-0 
1     E.Alfonzo   1-12     3 Ground Out                     b-0 
2     B.McRae     1- 7     4 Walk                           b-1 
2 1   J.Olerud    4- 3 15  1 Fly Out                        b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 8 ***
0     G.Hill      4- 4     3 Ground Out                     b-0 
1     B.Mueller   6- 6     5 Walk                           b-1 
1 1   B.Johnson   2- 8     3 Ground Out Double Play         1-o b-0 
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 8 ***
0     T.Hundley   5-11 12  4 Ground Out                     b-0 
1     B.Gilkey    6- 3     3 Fly Out                        b-0 
2     B.Huskey    4- 4     2 Ground Out                     b-0 
*** TOP OF INNING 9 ***
                             SUBSTITUTE PH- Rich Aurilia
0     R.Aurilia   5- 6 16  5 Line Out                       b-0 
1     D.Hamilton  4- 5     4 Ground Out                     b-0 
2     J.Vizcaino  5- 3     3 Ground Out                     b-0