Mike Baxter, after making the catch of his life last night, struggled to pull his T-shirt over his head after the game. Shaken, and in serious pain, he said he felt great on a night he gave up his body to keep Johan Santana’s no-hitter intact.
Everyone at Citi Field saw Baxter’s toughness as he slammed into the wall to catch Yadier Molina’s drive to left in the seventh. He hit the wall full force on the point of his left shoulder, but hung onto the ball as Santana was able to hold onto the first no-hitter in Mets history, beating the Cardinals, 8-0.
“I wasn’t able to brace for it, I’m glad we made the play, though,’’ Baxter said, gritting his teeth through the pain.
The kid who grew up in Whitestone, Queens as a Mets fan, going to Shea Stadium with his dad Ray, and playing his high school baseball at Archbishop Molloy for legendary coach Jack Curran, knew what this night meant for Mets history.
“What a night for the Mets,’’ Baxter said slowly. “What a night for Johan.’’
What a night for Mike Baxter.
Baxter said he would have an MRI exam today to find out the extent of the damage to the shoulder. He said it was the hardest he ever hit a wall: “I’m glad I had a chance to be part of that, I’m glad I was on the field for that,’’ he said of the no-hitter. “It’s an honor to make a play for Johan but ultimately it was his night. Your priority is to catch the ball, sometimes you have a chance to brace for the wall. Other times you don’t. Tonight was one where I didn’t. I’m glad I made the play though.’’
He couldn’t brace, he could only hit the wall hard and gather the ball in his glove as he sprawled onto the warning track like a rag doll. He had to be helped off the field by trainer Ray Ramirez and watched the end of the no-hitter in the trainer’s room.
“I got a good break on it and it came back over my left shoulder,’’ Baxter said. “I was able to double clutch the ball in my glove to keep it in there. I’m just glad to have a part in such a historic night.
“I’ve been no-hit,’’ Baxter said with a smile. “First one on defense, though, it’s a great feeling.’’
Despite all the pain.