Remembering Mets History: (2016) Mets Win Home Opener as They Raise the 2015 NL Championship Flag

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Friday April 8th, 2016: Mets Home Opener- The largest regular season day crowd came out to Citi Field to see the Mets raise the 2015 NL Championship flag as well as start out another Championship run for 2016.

 The pregame ceremony led to the unveiling of the 2015 NL Champions banner & Rusty Staub along with Edgardo Alfonzo & John Franco raising the NL Championship banner in right field. Rusty Staub a member of the 1973 NL Champion Mets team, John Franco & Edgardo Alfonzo were members of the 2000 NL champion Mets club.



On the mound for the Mets, it was Jacob deGrom, standing by for father duties, ready to leave in case his wife was to give birth to the couple's new baby. 

Terry Collins Mets were 1-1 having split an opening series in Kansas City in a rematch of last year's World Series. 

The Mets hosted Pete Mackanin's Philadelphia Phillies who were already 0-3 on the year.



Both teams went scoreless in the 1st inning. 

In the bottom of the 2nd, Michael Conforto was hit by a pitch from pitcher Jerad Eickhoff. Then Asdrubal Cabrera also reached base, this due to an error on the short stop after attempting to field a force play throw. Travis d'Arnaud then walked to load the bases. The Mets were able to score on Jacob deGrom's ground out, making it 1-0.

 deGrom kept the Phillies off the board through the first five innings. In the 6th he gave up one run as the pitcher doubled & Odubel Herrera singled. His day was over as he suffered a strain in his lat on the right side. In six innings he allowed one run on five hits with no walks & six strike outs. A fine first start of the season

The Mets answered in the home 6th as Lucas Duda led off with a double. Then the newest Met hero Neil Walker singled to center making it 2-1 as Duda scored. 

Next, young slugger Michael Conforto continued his hot start with a double down the line scoring Walker hustling all the way from first base. It was 3-1 Mets.

In the Mets 7th inning, David Wright drew a one out walks. Yoenis Cespedes then singled to left field & Duda drew a walk to load the bases.

Neil Walker then collected his second hit of the day with his second RBI of the day, bringing in Wright with the fourth run. 

The hot hitting Michael Conforto remained on fire as he singled to right field bringing in Cespedes & Duda giving the Mets a 6-1 lead. Conforto had three RBIs on the day.
Travis d'Arnaud finished off the Mets scoring with a base hit RBI making it 7-1. The Mets went on to a 7-2 victory in front of the home fans.


The Mets bullpen saw Jim Henderson put in another fine inning with a pair of strike outs in the 7th inning retiring the side in order.

In the 8th inning, Hansel Robles gave up two singles, along with a Mets error leading to a Phillies run being scored.

With two men on & one out Jerry Blevins put out the fire getting Odubel Herrera to pop out to third base. Cesar Hernandez was caught off first in a run downplay & got thrown out in a run downplay for an inning ending double play. 

Antonio Bastardo came on to close it out, after Darin Ruf singled, he struck out Andres Blanco & Tyler Goeddel. He got Cameron Rupp to ground out to end the game.

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