Dickey Dazzles Again, 1-hits Orioles

METS 5
ORIOLES 0

What can anyone say about R.A. Dickey? The man has been incredible all season long for the New York Metropolitans; he has been their rock, the one steady presence in a sea of constant chaos.

While the Mets struggle to stay relevant, Dickey has kept the Mets' heads above water since the season opened. At 11-1 and an ERA of 2.00, Dickey is coming into his own, perfecting the way knuckle-baller's influence this game, and paving a way to the All Star Game next month.

If Dickey doesn't get the ball for the All Star start, then NL manager and former St. Louis manager, Tony LaRussa must really (and I mean REALLY) hate the Mets. Because, Dickey deserves it.

Dickey had a hard road to this opportunity. He toiled in the majors for years with the Twins, the Rangers, the Mariners, before finding a home with the Mets in 2010. Since becoming a Met, Dickey has become the Mets number two pitcher behind Johan Santana. Hell, he is even more reliable than Santana, especially with number 57 having spent time on the shelf the past couple years.

He is 30-23 in his career with the Mets, 52-51 in his career, and has more complete games (6) and shutouts (3) than any Met pitcher in the past three seasons combined.

On Monday, Dickey threw his second consecutive 1-hitter, this one coming against the Orioles. Last week he made history recording 32.2 consecutive shutout innings, breaking the franchise record held by Jerry Koosman.

This time Dickey not only shutout the Orioles, and recorded 13 strikeouts, but he threw the first consecutive 1-hitter in baseball since 1988 when Dave Stieb did it for Toronto. Dickey's consecutive 1-hitters are also the first by a National League pitcher since Jim Tobin of the 1944 Boston Braves.

He has not permitted an earned run in 42.2 innings, which is the second longest streak in franchise history behind Dwight Gooden's 49 innings in 1985.

For a franchise defined by pitching, Dickey, 37, has redefined how the knuckle-ball can be throw in baseball. Before the knuckle-ball was a rariety, used by those who didn't have hard throwing stuff. Dickey's kunckler tops 81, which is very high for that kind of pitch. He has used it to befuddle hitters in both leagues, with 88 strikeouts during a personal nine-game winning streak.

It's a great story, and great to see that a guy who earned his stripes the hard way is finally make it pay off. Just goes to show you that hard work does indeed ... work.