Famous First in Flushing

Noah Syndergaard pulled off one of the rarest feats in all of baseball. Thursday, in the 31st game of the Mets 58th season, he became the club's first pitcher ever to throw a complete game shutout and homer for the only run of the game. The Mets blanked the Reds, 1-0 with Syndergaard coming as close as you can to being a one man band (or wrecking crew). Two-way domination -- and no wiggle room. Something such hallowed names as Seaver, Gooden and Koosman had never done.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it's the first time this took place anywhere in 36 years. Bob Welch performed similar magic for the Dodgers on June 17th, 1983. Add Syndergaard to the list and it's still just the seventh such effort in baseball's 150 year history. Compare that to 23 perfect games.

Noah Syndergaard has just worked his way into the rarest of circles.

(My image of Thor is from the Mets/Braves game on May 1st, 2018.)

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