Remembering Mets History (2010) Mets Win the Fourth Longest Game In Franchise History
The Mets were 4-7 on the young season having lost five of their last six games.
43,709 attended the game at the start but few remained when the game ended six hours & fifty three minutes later at 10:07 PM.
The Mets starter Johan Santana would have a good outing throwing seven shut out innings striking out nine batters while allowing just four hits. From the 4th inning until the top of the 7th, he retired eight in a row until Yadier Molina singled to left field.
In the bottom of the 10th, after getting the first two outs Pedro Feliciano walked Skip Schumaker then gave up a base hit to Ryan Ludwick. Mets manager Jerry Manuel brought in Fernando Nieve to pitch & placed Alex Cora at first base.
In the bottom of the 12th, Fernando Nieve got the first two outs then Skip Schumaker singled. Next catcher interference was called on Mets catcher Rod Barajas allowing Ryan Ludwick to reach base.
Raul Valdes who pitched 38 games for the Mets in 2010, then tossed two more scoreless.
In the top of the 19th inning, Jose Reyes led off with a walk & was sacrificed over to second by Luis Castillo. Cards pitcher Joe Mather then walked David Wright & hit Jason Bay with a pitch.
With the bases full, Jeff Francoeur hit a sac fly to left field bringing in Jose Reyes with the games first run. It seemed that finally the game may be over.
In the bottom of the 19th, Mets pitcher Francisco Rodriguez, walked Ryan Ludwick but he was thrown out trying to steal. With one out, Albert Pujols doubled into left field. Kyle Lohse hit a slow grounder to short that Jose Reyes handled getting the runner on first with Pujols advancing to third.
Then a long time Mets nemesis, Yadier Molina singled to right field with his third hit of the game, scoring Pujols to tie the game up handing K-Rod a blown save.
Mike Pelfrey was brought in to close it out &he retired the first two batters. But Brendan Ryan then singled & Skip Shumaker drew a walk. It seemed like this game was never going to end.
43,709 attended the game at the start but few remained when the game ended six hours & fifty three minutes later at 10:07 PM.
The Cards starter Jaime Garcia didn't allow a hit thru the first five innings. Keeping a no hitter until the top of the 6th when Angel Pagan led off with a single to center field.
Garcia threw seven shut out innings, allowing just one hit, striking out five while walking two.
In the top of the 8th, Mets reliever Ryota Iqarashi walked two batters in a row with two outs but the struck out Matt Holiday to end the inning.
In the top of the 9th, after Yadier Molina singled to start the inning, Jerry Manuel replaced him with Pedro Feliciano who got Felipe Lopez to ground into an inning ending double play.
The Cards Kyle McClellan pitched two scoreless innings getting his team to extra innings.
It was a big move, as Nieve gave up a walk to Albert Pujols loading the bases. But then Matt Holiday popped up along first base with Alex Cora leaping & falling into the stands making the catch to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 12th, Fernando Nieve got the first two outs then Skip Schumaker singled. Next catcher interference was called on Mets catcher Rod Barajas allowing Ryan Ludwick to reach base. Albert Pujols was walked intentionally loading the bases. Fernando Nieve then struck out Jason Motte to end the inning.
The Mets had a base runner in each inning from the 11th thru the 13th innings but failed to score.
Hisanori Takahashi got the Mets to the 14th inning. In the top of the 14th, Luis Castillo singled with two outs then David Wright drew a walk. But Jason Bay grounded out to end the inning.
In the bottom frame Joe Mather led off with a double then Brendan Ryan reached on Takahashi's error trying to field the sacrifice bunt. A defensive interference call put runners on second & third with no one out. Hisanori Takahashi then struck out Skip Shumaker & Ryan Ludwick. He walked Alber Pujols intentionally then got Blake Hawksworth to strike out looking.
In the bottom of the 15th a young Jenry Mejia who had just debuted a couple of weeks earlier gave up a walk & a base hit but got Brendan Ryan to ground out to end that threat. In the 16th, Mejia gave up back-to-back one out singles but then pinch hitter Brian Anderson grounded into an inning ending double play.
In the top of the 18th, the Mets put two more men on but Mike Jacobs flew out to right field to end the inning.
Raul Valdes who pitched 38 games for the Mets in 2010, then tossed two more scoreless.
With the bases full, Jeff Francoeur hit a sac fly to left field bringing in Jose Reyes with the games first run. It seemed that finally the game may be over.
In the bottom of the 19th, Mets pitcher Francisco Rodriguez, walked Ryan Ludwick but he was thrown out trying to steal. With one out, Albert Pujols doubled into left field. Kyle Lohse hit a slow grounder to short that Jose Reyes handled getting the runner on first with Pujols advancing to third.
Then a long time Mets nemesis, Yadier Molina singled to right field with his third hit of the game, scoring Pujols to tie the game up handing K-Rod a blown save.In the top of the 20th Joe Mather was on the mound for St. Louis as Angel Pagan led off with a base hit. Pagan led the Mets with a muti-three hit game.
Mike Jacobs followed with another base hit into right field. Pagan alertly got to third base. Jose Reyes then hit a sac fly center easily scoring Pagan making it a 2-1 Mets lead.
Quotes- Manager Jerry Manuel: "Mike Pelfrey asked to pitch. He stepped up & said I can do this".
Finally Ryan Ludwick grounded out to Luis Castillo at second base & he threw to first base getting the out ending the long contest with a 2-1 Mets win.
Mike Pelfrey collected the only save of his career.
Quotes- Jose Reyes: "That's the happiest 0-7 I've ever had in my life. I played good defense, got the RBI & we won the game. And finally it's over"
Mets Trivia:
This was the fourth longest games in franchise history going for a full twenty innings. The game would feature a Mets record nine pitchers & twenty four players overall.
This was the fourth longest games in franchise history going for a full twenty innings. The game would feature a Mets record nine pitchers & twenty four players overall.MLB Trivia: This was the longest scoreless game since August 1989 when the Dodgers & Expos went 21 innings without a run. It was also the longest game in the majors since April 2008 when the Rockies beat the Padres 2-1 in 22 innings.
The 2010 Mets ended the season in fourth place at 79-83, it was the final year Jerry Manuel was the helm getting replaced by Terry Collins in 2011. The front office also changed as Sandy Alderson took over for Omar Minaya.
The 2010 Mets ended the season in fourth place at 79-83, it was the final year Jerry Manuel was the helm getting replaced by Terry Collins in 2011. The front office also changed as Sandy Alderson took over for Omar Minaya.