NEW YORK, June 20 (UPI) -- FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Steve Trachsel became the latest New York Met to flirt with a no-hitter this season.
Steve Trachsel retired the first 19 batters he faced before tiring in the ninth and Mike Piazza and Edgardo Alfonzo homered Thursday night as the New York Mets held on for a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
It appeared to be a night of destiny for the Mets after Trachsel (5-6) kept the Twins off base for the first six innings and Piazza belted a pitch from Minnesota reliever Tony Fiore (5-2) to deep left-center field in the bottom of the inning.
Center fielder Torii Hunter appeared to make a leaping catch, but the glove was jarred lose as he collided with left fielder Jacque Jones and hit the fence. The glove landed over the fence with Hunter standing in disbelief and Piazza beginning the trot around the bases for his 14th homer.
The run looked like it would be enough for Trachsel, who did not allow a hit until Cristian Guzman hit a soft single into left-center field with one out in the seventh.
The Mets have never had a no-hitter in their history -- which spans four decades -- but Trachsel became the third to flirt with one this season. Pedro Astacio took a no-hitter into the seventh inning on April 27 against Milwaukee, one day after Shawn Estes retired the first 18 against the same team.
Alfonzo hit just his third homer of the season, a two-run blast in the eighth off Troy Hawkins, and the Mets ended up needing the insurance.
Trachsel ran out of gas in the ninth, leaving after allowing one-out singles to pinch-hitter David Ortiz, Jones and Guzman that loaded the bases. Armando Benitez retired Doug Mienkiewicz on a pop out before Corey Koskie doubled down the right field line to bring home two runs. Benitez regained his composure to strike out Hunter to end the game and earn his 17th save.
Twins starter Eric Milton pitched four scoreless innings before leaving with a bruised left heel.
