The 2006 NLCS: Mets Good Until the Last Inning

October 20006- NLCS
Game #1: A sold out Shea Stadium hosted the first Game of the Series and it may have been Tom Glavine's biggest night as a Met. Willie Randolph needed an Ace with Pedro on the DL and he gave the ball to Glavine. Glavine added another gem to his post season career throwing a four hit shut out over seven innings. He only struck out two Cards , but only walked two and never had a runner reach third base. Guillermo Mota & Billy Wagner both pitched perfect eight & ninth innings to seal the shut out.

The Mets offense only needed one big blow and it came in the 6th inning off Jeff Weaver. Paul Loduca singled and Carlos Beltran blasted a long HR over the right center field fence. The Mets took the opener 2-0.

The Mets lost Game Two, 9-6 as Billy Wagner gave up three runs in the 9th inning. They were shit out in Game Three 5-0 as Steve Trachsel gave up and lost his team forever, he never returned.

Game #4 was the night the Mets bat woke up. Carlos Delgado had a big five RBI night, including a two run HR in the 5th and a ground rule double scoring Reyes & Wright in the 6th inning. That inning Sean Green & Jose Valentin added RBI hits giving the Mets a total of eleven runs. Carlos Beltran also had a big night blasting two solo HRs with three hits, two walks, two RBIs & four runs scored. David Wright also hit a solo HR, as Oliver Perez got credit for the win.

Game #6 was an exciting night at Shea. I was at this one and the crowd was sure electric and into it from the pregame to the very end. Obviously with the Mets down 3-2 in the Series it was do or die, but that night it never felt like they could lose this thing.

In the 1st inning, Jose Reyes got things started with a lead off HR. Sean Green got drove in the second run on an RBI single after singles by Beltran & Wright. In the 7th the crowd let former Met Braden Looper have it as he entered. With two outs, pinch hitter Michael Tucker singled and Reyes followed with another. Both runners stole bases and Paul Loduca drove them both in with a single center field.

On the mound it was one of Johnny Maine's finest moments as he pitched into the 6th inning, allowing only two hits while striking out five. He wasn't to happy getting yanked by manager Willie Randolph in the 6th, but left to a standing ovation. Three more relievers led the way to Billy Wagner who got the save even though he gave up two more runs.

Game Seven is still a tough one to swallow, especially after what happened the next three seasons. The game was highlighted by Endy Chavez stealing a HR in the 8th inning making one of the greatest over the fence catches in history. Oliver Perez stepped up pitching six good innings allowing only a run. The score remained tied in a 1-1 nail bitter until the 8th inning. Aaron Heilman, a name I hate to even mention served up a two run HR to Yadier Molina, the catcher with the .216 season average and just 6 HRs in 417 at bats. That was it, the Mets did threaten in the bottom of the inning as Valentin & Chavez both singled. Then Cliff Floyd struck out & Reyes lined out. Paul Loduca walked to load the bases then Adam Wainwright struck out Carlos Beltran looking to end it. Ugh!, it still hurts.