Today In Mets History: 2000- Piazza Rocks Clemmens Again

June 9th, 2000: The Mets & their cross town rivals went at it for another round of the subway series. The Mets were in 2nd place 4 games behind the Braves with a 34-26 record, going against the other New York team at 32-24. Roger Clemens took the mound trying to beat the Mets for the 1st time. He was the Mets whooping boy, especially Mike Piazza’s. While with the the other NY team, Clemens was 0-3 with a 13.38 ERA vs. the Mets. Piazza homered in the three games Roger Roids had previously pitched and would be 7 for 12 with nine RBIs by the time this one was over.

Against New Yorks AL pitching Piazza was hitting .385 with 4 HRs & 14 RBIs. In the 4th inning Jason Tyner reached on an error, Derek Bell & Eduardo Alfonzo walked, up came Piazza blasting a massive grand slam HR to dead center. Piazza dropped the bat slowly and trotted with nothing but a light smile on his face. It was his 16th HR of the year, he would hit 38 on the season. Roger Roids kicked the rubber and proceeded to get pounded, Derek Bell had 3 hits, 5 RBIs and a 3 run HR; Eduardo Alfonzo crushed a two run HR too. Joe Torre came to send Roger to an early shower, he was booed by the fans on his way out. The only sound they made since Piazza’s HR in the 4th.

The Mets went on to win it 12-2 as Al Leiter went to 7-1 on the year, 7 innings pitched 2 runs, 7 hits, 4 and Ks. Turk Wendell & Rich Rodriguez closed it out.

We all know what happened next time out, then after that the rematch at Shea when Piazza homered off Roid man again to let bygones be gone. Then the All Star game where Piazza was probably tipping off all the AL hitters to what was coming as Clemens got rocked. Clemens of course has been disgraced by his own lies & steroids, even that other NY team turned their backs on him in the end.