Remembering Mets History: (1999) Roger Cedeno Steals Four Bases

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Friday May 14th 1999: Bobby Valentine's New York Mets (2015) were having a fine start to what would be their Wild Card Champion season. On this night they arrived in Philadelphia to take on Terry Francona's Phillies (19-15) also having a good start. Both teams were battling for a second place spot behind those pesky Atlanta Braves. The Mets one & one half game behind with the Phils a game behind them.

Mets pitcher Masato Yoshii went up against Chad Ogea in front of 21,074 at the Vet.

Starting Lineups
In the top of the 1st, Roger Cedeno reached on an error & advanced on a force play. He then stole third base for his first steal of the night. John Olerud followed with a HR making it 2-0. Mike Piazza drew a walk & Robin Ventura connected for a HR as well, 4-0 Mets. In the 3rd Edgardo Alfonzo hit a solo HR to put the Mets up 5-1.

 The Phillies would hit three HRs off Yoshi, one from David Doster, another from Scott Rolen & Bobby Abreu hit an inside the parker.

In the 5th Cedeno reached on an infield single. He then stole second base, and advanced to third, tagging on an Edgardo Alfonzo fly ball. Cedeno then would score on Jon Olerud's sac fly. He now had two steals on the night.

Later in the top of the 9th, Cedeno reached on a bunt base hit, then stole second base & third base off pitcher Wayne Gomes. He now had four steals on the evening. He would score again o Edgardo Alfonzo's RBI single.
Cedeno was 2-5 with four steals & two runs scored on the night, taking full advantage of catcher Mike Lieberthal & Phillie pitchers. Cedeno became the second Met (Vince Coleman the first) in team history to steal four bases in a game.

 For the Mets Masato Yoshi earned his third win of the year, with Turk Wendell, Armondo Benitez, & John Franco all helping out from the bullpen. Philadelphia's Chad Ojea took the loss. 

He would end up with 66 steals on the season and bat .313. In the off season he was traded along with Octavio Dotel in exchange for Mike Hampton & Derek Bell. The Mets won the 1999 wild card & got within two games of the World Series.

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