Jake Arrieta and the Orioles ran into history Monday. History won in a rout.

R.A. Dickey got his second straight one-hitter, a remarkable feat that hasn't been accomplished in 24 years, and shut out the Orioles, 5-0. He is the first National League pitcher to do that since 1944. The Mets didn't exist, the Giants and Dodgers were still in New York and Bobby Thomson was seven years away from hitting "the shot heard 'round the world."

The Orioles couldn't hit any of Dickey's 35 knuckleballs, which topped 80 mph. He struck out 13 batters, with Matt Wieters and Chris Davis each fanning three times. Dickey's complete-game effort was otherworldly, and the Birds were bewildered trying to catch up with his stuff.

Dickey now has a 2.00 ERA and is 11-1, dominating opposing hitters like few pitchers in modern history.

Jake Arrieta pitched pretty well, too, giving up six hits during seven innings, with four earned runs (all on a grand slam given up to Ike Davis). Arrieta threw 105 pitches during his seven frames.

Given how incredible Dickey was, it'll get lost that Arrieta has made some pretty good steps during his last two starts. His start last week against Pittsburgh was solid as well.

"He was outstanding," manager Buck Showalter told MASN after the game. "I'm real proud of him."

Showalter was close to not starting Arrieta, which makes his performance all the more impressive.

The Orioles won't face pitchers like Dickey often, but that doesn't mean the O's will marvel at what he's accomplished.

"God bless him," Showalter told MASN. "I'm more worried about what's happening with the Orioles. God bless him, but I don't like anybody shutting us out. Everybody wants to talk about R.A., and that's fine and dandy, but we've got to figure out [Johan] Santana tomorrow, and that won't be easy."

Santana will throw for the Mets tonight at Citi Field and is 4-3 with a 3.23 ERA.

Posted June 19, 2012