SPECIAL NIGHT
Right-hander strikes out 11 batters to achieve the feat in his 13th career start.
Rookie Chris Heston, right, of the San Francisco Giants embraces catcher Buster Posey after throwing a no-hitter in his 13th career start to defeat the New York Mets, 5-0.
NEW YORK — Chris Heston pitched the first nohitter in the majors this season in his 13th career start, leading the San Francisco Giants over the New York Mets, 5-0, Tuesday night.
Only three batters reached base against the rookie, all after being hit by pitches. Heston also had a two-run single for his first big league run batted in and finished with two more hits than the Mets.
“Lot of emotions going through my mind right now,” Heston said. “Hasn’t sunk in yet. Looking forward to catching my breath and celebrating a little bit.”
The Giants have thrown a no-hitter in four consecutive seasons. Matt Cain threw a perfect game against Houston in 2012 and Tim Lincecum threw no-hit- ters in 2013 and 2014.
The only other team to accomplish that feat was the Dodgers from 1962 to 1965. Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax pitched all of those.
Heston (6-4) struck out 11 batters, six looking. The Mets hit only two balls out of the infield.
After plunking Anthony Recker with a pitch to start the ninth inning, the righthander threw called third strikes past pinch-hitter Danny Muno, Curtis Granderson and Ruben Tejada. Heston walked toward the plate and was hugged by catcher Buster Posey.
“It’s fun to see good things happen to good people,” Posey said.
The last pitch was a 91 mph sinker that froze Tejada.
Heston, 27, threw 72 of 110 pitches for strikes in the 35th no-hitter by a rookie in major league history. The last was one by Boston’s Clay Buchholz in 2007.
Angel Pagan put the Giants ahead with a run-scoring groundout in the first inning and Matt Duffy hit a home run in the sixth.
San Francisco took a 5-0 lead on Joe Panik’s seventhinning home run.