centerfield maz

Tuesday April 30th, 2002: On this evening the Mets who were in an early season first place tie with the Montreal Expos, were in the Arizona desert going up against the reigning World Champion Diamondbacks at Bank One Ball Park.  A good crowd of 36,743 came to see Bob Brenly's D-backs host Bobby Valentines, New York Mets.  Mike Piazza returned to the lineup tonight after being sidelines for a week with a strained hamstring. Arizona's Rick Helling (3-2) went up against Al Leiter (2-1) who was holding a 1.13 ERA over his first five games.   Going into this game, Leiter had victories against all other 29 MLB teams in his career. With a win tonight he would become the first pitcher to have beaten all 30 MLB teams. In the top of the  1st inning the  Mets pounced on Rick Helling, Roberto Alomar & Mo Vaughn both singled. Then Mike Piazza blasted a three run HR making it 3-0. It was Piazza's sixth HR of the season. In the bottom of the 2nd, Roberto Alomar triple...

After an off season where Pete Alonso & the Mets couldn't see eye to eye on a contact, a deal was finally agreed upon on February 5th giving Pete a two-year $54 million deal with a  $10 million signing bonus . The fans wanted Pete back & let management know that. Pete wanted to come back & he let that be known as well.  Alonso came to Spring Training determined, then began the season with a purpose. He showed that he was the Mets most valuable player & the league's best player in the month of April. Pete Alonso closed out the month of March hitting his fourth career grand slam HR, coming off the Marlins Cal Quantrill in a seven run Mets 5th inning of a 10-4 win in South Florida. Multi- Four RBI Game: On April 2nd, in a 6-5 extra inning win in South Florida, Alonso had his first multi- four RBI game of the season. He collected three hits with a pair of doubles scoring two runs. In the top of the 1st, Alonso doubled bringing in Juan Soto with his first RBI of t...

Wednesday April 11th, 1973:   In his first start of the 1973 season,  Jerry Koosman took the mound in the first Mets road  game of the year which was at St. Louis. The Mets had won their first two games of the year at home.  Tonight Jerry  Koosman went up against the Cardinals Reggie Cleveland in front of 12,290 fans at Busch Stadium. The Mets helped out Kooz right away in the 1st inning as Bud Harrelson, Felix Millan & John Milner all singled.  Reggie Cleveland then threw a wild pitch to Rusty Staub, scoring Harrelson from third for the first run.  Staub then poked a base hit thru the infield, scoring Millan putting the Mets up 2-0.  In the top of the 3rd inning, first baseman John Milner hit his first HR of the season to make it 3-0 Mets. After getting through the first two innings, Koosman gave up a leadoff triple to Jose Cruz in the 3rd inning. Next Ray Busse hit a ground ball to Mets third baseman Jim Fregosi who booted i...

Friday April 29th , 2016 : Terry Collins second place, reigning NL Champion  Mets (13-7) were riding a six-game  win streak as they entered a weekend series with Bruce Bochy's San Francisco Giants (12-11) at Citi Field.  A crowd of 39,764 settled in to Citi Field on chilly rainy Spring evening. The Mets were on a hot streak & tonight they would erupt  with a historic third inning.  Steven Matz took the mound for New York & gave up to singles in the first inning but got Hunter Pence to ground to short to end the inning. cruised along with six scoreless innings striking out four scattering seven hits getting his record to 3-1.  Tonight marked the first time in six games that Yoenis Cespedes returned to the Mets line up after bruising his right leg. Historic 3rd Inning: In the bottom of the 3rd, the Mets got to Padre starter Jake Peavey with a historic third  inning.  Curtis Granderson & David Wright started out ...

Saturday April 30th, 1988: Davey Johnson's New York Mets (15-6) were off to a good start, on their way to their 1988 NL Eastern title.  On this wild night they came to Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium  to face Pete Rose's Reds (11-11).   Riverfront was always an interesting place for the Mets to play in the late 1980's    33,346 fans would certainly make their presence known tonight, in what would be an ugly situation before it was all over.  It turned out to be an infamous game that tarnished an umpire's career & added more drama to a Player/Manager's legacy. The Mets sent Bobby Ojeda (2-0) to the mound, against the Reds Tom Browning (0-2).  In the bottom of the 2nd, Darryl Strawberry led off with a double. He advanced to third on Kevin McReynolds fly ball out to right field.  Gary Carter hit a sac fly scoring Straw with first run. In the home 3rd, after the first out, the Reds connected for three staright hits with Barry Larkin's RBI sing...