Remembering Mets History (2010) Rod Barajas Hits the Mets First Walk Off HR At Citi Field
Friday May 7th, 2010: The Mets were playing in the team's second season at Citi Field. In 2009 although the Mets had four-walk off wins, there were no Mets-walk off HRs hit in the new ballpark.Tonight, Jerry Manuel's Mets (15-13) hosted Bruce Bochy's San Francisco Giants (17-10).
The 2010 Mets would finish fourth (79-83) during in another poor era in franchise history. On the other side of the diamond, these Giants would surprise everyone going on to win the World Series. The Giants would win three titles in the next six years.
In the bottom of the 1st inning, the Mets went on the board with Jason Bay's solo HR.
Back-to-Back HRs: In the bottom of the 2nd, Ike Davis hit the first of two HRs on the night, this solo shot made it a 2-0 Met lead.
Next the hot hitting Rod Barajas, followed with a back-to-back HR. It was the first of two for him as well & his eighth HR of the year putting New York ahead 3-0.
Rod Barajas Trivia: Mets catcher, Rod Barajas was a 12-year veteran having played with Arizona, Texas & Toronto. He came to New York via free agency. Barajas started out the season, shocking everyone putting up huge slugging numbers. Thru his first 23 games he would hit nine HRs with17 RBIs.
In the top of the 3rd, Eli Whiteside doubled advanced on a bunt & scored on Aaron Rowand's groundball out making it 3-1.
In the home 4th inning, Ike Davis followed with his second HR of the game giving the Mets a 4-1 lead.
& have two multi-HR games. He would come in seventh in the Rookie of the Year voting.
In the top of the 5th inning, the Giants collected three straight hits, Aaron Rowand's RBI double made it 3-2 & Mark DeRosa's slow grounder allowed Jonathan Sanchez to score making it 4-3.
The game would stay that way until the 9th inning. Mike Pelfrey held the Giants to three runs on eight hits, striking out four with no walks. Fernando Nieve finished off the 8th inning.
In the top of the 9th, Mets troubled closer Frankie Rodriguez surrendered a pinch-hit HR to John Bowker tying up the game.
In the bottom of the 9th, Sergio Romo was on for the Giants. Ike Davis drew a one out walk, then Rod Barajas stepped in & blasted a HR down the left field line for the game winner. This was first Mets-Walk off HR at Citi Field, giving them an exciting 6-4 win.
Trivia: In a crazy week for these Mets, they would be involved in four walk off wins & losses in five games. They lost the first two to the Cincinnati Reds & after tonight's win would have the second walk-HR victory at Citi Field, when Rod Barajas hit a bottom of the 11th shot off the Giants Henry Blanco.