The wait is over.

It only took 51 seasons and more than 8,000 games, but the Mets finally got their first no-hitter. Johan Santana pitched the first no-hitter in franchise history in the Mets 8-0 win over the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.

It was also the first no-hitter for Santana, who came to the Mets in a trade before the 2008 season. He walked five betters and struck out eight on a career-high 134 pitches.

Mets manager Terry Collins was worried about pushing Santana that far. Santana missed all of last season with a shoulder injury.

"I just couldn't take him out," Collins said. "I'm very excited for him, but in five days, if his arm is bothering him, I'm not going to feel very good."

For the Mets, it removes them from the list of teams that have not thrown a no-hitter. The only team remaining is the San Diego Padres, who have not had a pitcher complete the task since the club was established in 1969.

As with every no-hitter, the starting pitcher received some help. Most, notably was the play made by left fielder Mike Baxter. In the seventh, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina hit a line drive to the leftfield wall. Baxter ran full speed to the wall, extended his glove to make the catch, and then slammed hard into the wall.

Santana also got help from a missed call.  Former Met Carlos Beltran, in his first game back at Citi Field, hit a shot down the third base line in the sixth inning. It was called a foul ball but replays showed that it clearly hit the white chalk of the foul line.

The Mets, who came into the league in 1962, have had plenty of candidates to pitch a no-hitter, such as Tom Seaver and Doc Gooden and David Cone, but none were able to do what John Santana did on Friday night.