Daniel Murphy and Justin Turner watched from the infield as R.A. Dickey’s fluttering knuckleball left the Diamondbacks flailing and frustrated, glad they weren’t the ones trying in vain to hit it. Terry Collins watched from the dugout and thought Dickey might at long last produce the Mets’ first no-hitter.
Alas, that streak is at 7,996 and counting, but Dickey put on a knuckleball clinic yesterday, befuddling the Diamondbacks in a 3-1 win.
“The way that game started, I actually thought this might be the day because they were not getting good swings, and when they did hit it, it was ground balls,” Collins said. “I thought it was going to go. He has as good a chance as anybody [at a no-hitter]. When it’s working, it’s hard to hit.’’
The Diamondbacks found that out the hard way. Dickey (4-1) retired the first 10 batters he faced before Gerardo Parra’s bloop double in the fourth. Daniel Murphy’s two-run single in the first and Josh Thole’s RBI single in the fifth proved more than enough run support for Dickey, who was working on a three-hit shutout when Collins came over to check with him before the ninth.
“He said, ‘I’m going to finish,’ ” said Collins, whose Mets improved to 11-3 in games decided by two runs or less. “He deserved the chance to go back out there.’’
Dickey walked Parra to lead off the ninth, and Justin Upton’s RBI double to left broke up the shutout and ended Dickey’s day. He slammed the rosin bag down in disgust and walked off to a standing ovation from the 29,107 at Citi Field.
“About 45 miles into our bus ride to Philly, I’ll probably let up a little bit,’’ said Dickey, who walked four and struck out four in the eight-plus innings. “It leaves a sour taste in my mouth because I know I have an expectation of myself in that situation, and that’s not it. When I don’t meet that expectation, it is tough to swallow.’’
Dickey got off to a rocky beginning last year before closing with a dozen straight quality starts. But he’s had just one hiccup this season, and eight-run shelling in Atlanta on April 18, and five quality starts.
“I’ve felt good,’’ said Dickey. “That water-balloon outing in Atlanta was really the only time I haven’t. As far as where I am now compared to last year, I’m very pleased.’’
Reliever Tim Byrdak came on and almost gave up a game-tying home run, as Jason Kubel sent Kirk Nieuwenhuis to the warning track in left field. After a nine-pitch duel, closer Frank Francisco fanned Paul Goldschmidt with 95-mph heat on a full count, then got Miguel Montero to fly out to the warning track in right for his second save in as many games and seventh in eight chances.
The Mets made their opportunities count against Trevor Cahill, scratching out six total singles and getting their RBI hits from Murphy and Thole with two outs.
“I’m behind him at second base and I see what it’s doing, and I’m really glad he’s on my side because that thing was pretty crazy today,’’ Murphy said. “We saw what a competitor R.A. is.’’
About the only negative was shortstop Ruben Tejada leaving the game with a strained right quad after stumbling over first base while beating out a fifth-inning bunt. Turner replaced Tejada, and turned a double play with Murphy in the seventh.
“I can see the ball moving — it’s all over the place,’’ Turner said of Dickey’s knuckler. “That thing was nasty, so I’m glad I get to play behind him and don’t have to go up there and hit against him.’’
brian.lewis@nypost.com