New York Mets' Jonathon Niese delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, April 8, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)NEW YORK - Jonathon Niese took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his first start since signing a rich contract and the New York Mets completed a season-opening sweep of the Atlanta Braves with a 7-5 victory Sunday.
Niese (1-0) allowed just two balls out of the infield through six innings and retired 15 in a row before walking Dan Uggla on a 10-pitch at-bat leading off the seventh. On the next pitch, Niese's 99th of the game, Freddie Freeman singled cleanly to right.
New York has played 7,971 games in its 51-season history and is the oldest team in the majors without a no-hitter, startling for a club that produced stellar pitchers such as Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan and Dwight Gooden. San Diego (6,846) is the only other big league team without one.