Mets pitchers' drought ends on deGrom's first hit

NEW YORK -- Thanks to Jacob deGrom, the Mets no longer have to worry about challenging a dubious 100-year-old record.

A former college shortstop, deGrom singled in his first big league plate appearance in the third inning of the Mets' 1-0 loss to the Yankees in the Subway Series finale on Thursday to record the first hit by any Mets pitcher this season. His teammates had been 0-for-64, establishing the longest hitless streak to start a season in Major League history.

"It felt good," deGrom said. "He threw me a first-pitch changeup, then the next one was a fastball. I just happened to hit it the other way."

The 1914 Cleveland Naps hold the all-time longest hitless streak for pitchers, going 0-for-92 during one midseason stretch.

DeGrom, a .176 career hitter in the Minors, already had two hits in 12 at-bats at Triple-A Las Vegas.

The Mets' hitless streak certainly was a team effort. Among the greatest offenders were Jenrry Mejia (0-for-16), Dillon Gee (0-for-14), Bartolo Colon (0-for-11) and Zack Wheeler (0-for-10). Mets pitchers batted .115 last season, with 34 hits in 296 at-bats.