The New York Mets lost a no-hitter and then the game against the Cubs Monday night. Right-hander Luis Severino took a no-hitter into the eighth inning on Monday night at Citi Field before Dansby Swanson dunked a broken-bat bloop hit into the outfield.
Swanson's hit, which left his bat at a modest 72.9 mph, came right after Michael Busch worked a walk to lead off the eighth. Here's a look, followed by an appreciative ovation from the home crowd:
Severino's bid, had it been realized, would have been the second no-hitter of the 2024 season. It would also have be the third no-hitter in Mets franchise history. The last Mets no-hitter, a combined effort, came on this date in 2022. Severino as a member of the Yankees made it seven hitless innings against the Rangers on Oct. 3, 2022. However, Yankees manager Aaron Boone made the decision to lift Severino before the eighth since it was just his third start back from a lat injury.
In Monday's eighth inning, the Cubs were able to push across the tying run, in part because of third baseman Joey Wendle's questionable decision to attempt a 5-4-3 double play rather than cutting down the runner headed home. Severino's efforts, however, still qualify as a gem: 8 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 5 SO, 2 BB. Of Severino's 101 pitches, 68 went for strikes, and he also recorded eight ground-outs. Severino averaged 96.2 mph with his fastball, and overall he earned 13 swings and misses. Severino's bid came the day after Mets lefty Jose Quintana worked eight innings of his own in the series finale against the Cardinals. It's been a while since such a thing happened:
The Cubs took the lead against Edwin Díaz in the top of the ninth on a two-run Christopher Morel home run and Hector Neris held on in the bottom of the ninth for a 3-1 Chicago victory.
The Mets signed Severino, 30, this past winter to a one-year, $13 million deal. They were able to get him on such modest terms because Severino, coming off a disastrous final season with the Yankees, needed to re-establish his value as a potent starting pitcher. Thus far, he's done that and then some. Monday's work lowered his ERA for the season to 2.31 with 31 strikeouts and 11 walks in 35 innings.