Remembering Mets History (2000) NLCS Game #2: Mike Piazza HRs & Jay Payton's 9th Inning Single Puts NY Up 2-0
Tonight 52,250 Cardinals fans came out to Busch Stadium for Game #2.
The festivities began when former Cardinals Hall of Fame short stop, Ozzie Smith threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Tonight, the Cards were still without their injured HR slugger Mark McGwire as he was not in the starting lineup, but he was available to pinch hit.
In the top of the 1st, the Cardinals' Rick Ankiel walked Edgardo Alfonzo then threw a wild pitch advancing Fonzie to second.
Ankiel then Mike Piazza & a sac fly to center field from Todd Zeile scored Piazza & gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 5th inning with one out Fernando Vina collected an infield single that Leiter couldn't handle. Edgar Renteria then doubled to left field, scoring Vina bringing St. Louis to within a run, making it 3-2.
After a scoreless 5th inning, Matt Morris came on pitching a scoreless 6th & 7th innings holding
the Mets down.
Mike Piazza was intentionally walked, Dave Veres came on to pitch to Todd Zeile. Zeile then singled to center field bringing in Alfonzo, with his second hit & second RBI of the game giving the Mets a two-run 5-3 lead. On the play, Mike Piazza was thrown out at third base for the third out of the inning.
The Mets bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. In the bottom of the 8th, John Franco gave up a one out
walk to Carlos Hernandez. Will Clark followed with a single to right. John Franco then threw a wild pitch allowing Carlos Hernandez to score the Cards fourth run.
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In the top of the 9th, Mike Timlin replaced Dave Veres for St. Louis. Robin Ventura
In the top of the 9th, Armando Benitez got Fernando Vina & Edgar Renteria out on fly ball.
Mets manager Bobby Valentine gave the ball to Al Leiter (16-8 / 200 Ks / 3.20 ERA)
In the NLDS Leiter had pitched eight innings allowing two runs over eight innings taking no decision in the Mets Game #2 win in San Francisco. & Tony Larussa's starting pitcher was Rick Ankiel (11-7 / 3.50 ERA / 194 Ks). In the NLDS Ankiel had given up four runs in 2.2 innings to the Braves. He walked six & threw five wild pitches taking no decision.
Rick Ankiel Trivia: Ankiel's control troubles continued, in the NLDS he had thrown five wild pitches & walked six in 2.2 innings.
This was the first of two wild pitches tonight & four in the NLCS as he set a record with nine post season wild pitches. He would walk 11 batters in four innings of work.
Next Ankiel walked Robin Ventura drawing the third walk of the inning. Benny Agbayani then doubled to left field scoring Piazza to make it 2-0.
Tony LaRussa come out & removed Ankiel bringing in Britt Reames who retired Jay Payton to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 2nd, St. Louis got a double from Shawon Dunston & a base hit from Rick Lankford. Eli Marrero grounded out to Edgardo Alfonzo at second as Shawon Dunston scored the Cards first run 2-1.
In the top of the 3rd inning, Mike Piazza led off with a solo HR off Britt Reams, adding to the Mets lead making it 3-1. It was Mike Piazza's first HR of the 2000 post season.
Edgar Renteria then stole third base. After Jim Edmonds flew out, Fernando Tatis doubled to left field scoring Renteria to tie up the game as Busch Stadium went wild.
But from there Al Leiter retired the next seven batters & got the Mets to the 8th inning.
Leiter pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on eight hits & struck out a post season career high nine batters, exiting to a 3-3 tie.
In the top of the 4th, the Cards Britt Reams gave up a triple to Edgardo Alfonzo, walked Mike Piazza intentionally & walked Todd Zeile loading the bases. But Robin Ventura grounded out to end the inning.
the Mets down.
In the top of the 8th inning, with Matt Morris still on the mound, Timo Perez collected a two out single, as he now had hit safely in five straight post season games.
Eduardo Alfonzo then hit a short single to left center field; Perez scampered all the way around the bases & was safe at home on the throw from Edmonds in center. Timo had scored a run in three straight post season games; it was his fourth run scored of the post season.
The Mets bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. In the bottom of the 8th, John Franco gave up a one out
walk to Carlos Hernandez. Will Clark followed with a single to right. John Franco then threw a wild pitch allowing Carlos Hernandez to score the Cards fourth run.
Bobby Valentine took John Franco out as he was relieved by Turk Wendell who quickly gave up an RBI double to J.D. Drew tying the game up at 5-5.
Slugger Mark McGwire who had been out of the line up, came in as a pinch hitter & was intentionally walked.
Turk Wendall then struck out Craig Paquette for the final out. In the inning, seven Cardinals came to the plate scoring the two runs on two hits, two walks & wild pitch.
In the top of the 9th, Mike Timlin replaced Dave Veres for St. Louis. Robin Ventura reached on an error at third base by Craig Paquette who had replaced Fernando Tatis earlier in the game.
Bobby Valentine called for Benny Agbayani to lay down a bunt which he did successfully moving Ventura over to second base. "Super" Joe Mcewing was brought in to pinch run, as Jay Payton came to the plate.
Jay Payton singled to center bringing home Mcewing in what would be the games winning run.
Jay Payton Trivia: Payton had now hit safely in five straight post season games & had driven in four runs.
Armondo Benitez then walked Jim Edmonds but struck out Carlos Hernandez to end the game. It was his fourth strike out in five innings pitched in the 2000 post season.
New York took the 6-5 victory & left St. Louis up two games to none in the NLCS on their way back to New York, where some excited Mets fans would be waiting for Game #3 at Shea Stadium.
