NEW YORK (AP) - Johan Santana pitched the first no-hitter in New York Mets' history, helped by an umpire's missed call and an outstanding catch in left field in an 8-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.
After a string of close calls in their 51-season history, Santana finally finished the job in the Mets' 8,020nd game since the team was born in 1962.
He needed a couple of key assists to do it.
Carlos Beltran, back at Citi Field for the first time since the Mets traded him last July, hit a line drive over third base in the sixth inning that hit the foul line and should have been called fair. But third base umpire Adrian Johnson ruled it foul and the no-hitter was intact.
Mike Baxter made a tremendous catch in left field to rob Yadier Molina of extra bases in the seventh, getting injured in the process.
REDS 4, ASTROS 1
HOUSTON (AP) - Jay Bruce homered and drove in two runs to back a solid performance by Mike Leake and the Reds beat the sliding Astros.
Leake (2-5) had a season-high seven strikeouts in seven innings, yielding just one run and four hits. Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the ninth for his fourth save.
Houston has dropped seven straight in its longest skid since it lost seven in a row last August.
Joey Votto hit a two-out single in the first and scored on Brandon Phillips' double off the wall in center, putting Cincinnati up 1-0. Bruce then singled in Phillips.
Houston starter J.A. Happ (4-5) allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings.
PIRATES 8, BREWERS 2
MILWAUKEE (AP) - The Pirates scored six runs off Randy Wolf in the third inning, then went on to pound the Brewers.
Ryan Braun left the game with a right hip strain, after sitting out Thursday night's game because of lingering tightness in his right Achilles tendon.
Kevin Correia (2-5) gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings for the Pirates, who have won six of their last seven games. The Pirates came into Friday's game with a 4-38 record at Miller Park since the start of the 2007 season.
Nyjer Morgan hit a solo home run in the first inning for Milwaukee, snapping his Major League record of 138 straight plate appearances without an RBI to start the season. But Morgan's misplayed ball in the outfield played a critical role in the Pirates' big inning.
PHILLIES 6, MARLINS 4
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Hunter Pence hit a two-run homer, Hector Luna had three RBIs and the Phillies beat the Marlins.
Pence, Carlos Ruiz and Placido Polanco each had three hits as the Phillies won for the seventh time in nine games. Jonathan Papelbon got five outs for his 15th save in 15 chances.
Kyle Kendrick (2-4) allowed eight hits in 5 1-3 innings, but held Miami to two runs.
Mark Buehrle (5-5) gave up four runs and a season-high 11 hits in five innings for the Marlins. He had won his last four decisions.