Remembering Mets History (2000) NLCS Game #4: Mets Score Ten Runs Getting One Win Away from the NL Pennant

Sunday October 15th, 2000: NLCS Game #4- Shea Stadium, New York: After the Mets took the first game at Shea Stadium, they were now up two games to one. Manager Bobby Valentine sent Bobby Jones (11-6 / 5.06 ERA) to the mound for Game #4. 

In Bobby Jones last start he threw his one hit complete game shut out over the San Francisco Giants at Shea Stadium to clinch the NLDS. His Cardinal opponent tonight was twenty game winner, Daryl Kile (20-9 / 3.91 ERA) the Game One loser pitching on three days rest.

55,665 excited Mets fans filled up Shea Stadium on a beautiful fall evening in Queens.

Tonight’s start wasn’t anywhere near as good as Bobby Jones' last when he one hit the Giants to clinch the NLDS. Jones surrendered six runs in four innings. 

In the top of the 1st inning, the Cards Fernando Vina led off with a double to right field. Jim Edmonds then hit a one out two run HR giving the Cards the early 2-0 lead. It was Edmonds third post season HR & his 11th RBI.

In the bottom of the 1st, the Mets answered right away as Timo Perez led off with a ground rule double. Edgardo Alfonzo then doubled to right field bringing in New York's first run. 

Fonzie Trivia: Alfonzo had now hit safely in all eight 2000 post season games & had a ten-game hit streak going back to last year's NLCS. It was also his third double & eighth RBI of this post season raising his average to .344. 

Before the game Alfonzo took charge taking on a leadership role, as he talked to the team to fire them & his words seemed to have hit home.

Quotes- Edgardo Alfonzo: "Our attitude should be more aggressive, from the dugout to the field."

Mike Piazza followed with a double, hitting safely in his fourth straight game but Alfonzo was unable to score. 

Robin Ventura then doubled past Edmonds in deep center field collecting just his fourth post season hit, bringing in both Alfonzo & Mike Piazza putting the Mets ahead 3-2. 

After Todd Zeile grounded out, Benny Agbayani hit the Mets fifth double of the inning scoring Piazza giving New York a 4-2 lead.

Quotes- Jay Payton: "the bench was electrifying."

In the 2nd inning, the Met bats went to work again. With one out Timo Perez singled to left field, he then stole second base. Edgardo Alfonzo flew to centerfield advancing Perez to third. 

Mike Piazza was then walked intentionally, Darryl Kile then walked Robin Ventura loading the bases for Todd Zeile. Todd Zeile lined a double to left field bringing in two more runs, giving the Mets a 6-2 lead. 

Zeile Trivia: Todd had himself a four-game hit streak, as he collected his third double & fifth RBI of the series. Although his average was just .241 his seven hits & five walks gave him a .343 on base %.

Benny Agbayani followed with a base hit to center field bringing in Robin Ventura to make it a 7-3
Mets lead.

Benny Trivia: Agbayani had now hit safely in all eight post season games, raising his average to .333 with his third double & fourth RBI of the series.

Overall, in the home 2nd inning, the Mets sent seven men to the plate, scoring three runs with two hits & two walks.

Twenty game winner, Daryl Kile gave up seven runs on eight hits & three walks in the first two innings exiting in the 4th inning.

In the bottom of the 4th inning, after walking Timo Perez Tony LaRussa removed Darryl Kile with Mike James. 

In the top of the 4th the Cardinals got a run-on Will Clark's solo HR making it a 7-3 game.

In the bottom 4th inning, Mike Piazza hit his second HR of the post season, a solo blast coming off Mike James to extend the Mets lead to 8-3.  

In the top of the 5th St. Louis got base hits from J.D. Drew & Carlos Hernandez. Eric Davis followed with an RBI double bringing in Drew making it 8-4.

Mets manager Bobby Valentine went to his bullpen & brought in Glendon Rusch, usually a starter. Rusch had made one relief appearance in 31 games in the regular season. Bobby Jones went four innings, giving up six runs on six hits with no walks & two strike outs.

Glendon Rusch would give up an RBI sac fly to Edgar Renteria, then an RBI single to Jim

Edmonds making it an 8-6 game. For Edmonds it was his fifth multi-RBI game of the post season.

In the home 6th, with Mike Timlin now pitching, Mike Bordick walked & was bunted over to second by Glendon Rusch. Timo Perez then reached on an error by third baseman Fernando Tatis. Next, Mike Timlin hit Edgardo Alfonzo with a pitch loading the bases. 

Mike Piazza hit a grounder to third base & Fernando Tatis made his second error of the inning which allowed Mike Bordick to score & Timo Perez to advance. Robin Ventura added a sac fly RBI bringing home the exciting Timo Perez making it a 10-6 Mets lead, which turned out to be the final score.

Timo Trivia: Perez had now scored a run in each of the last five games having a multi-three RBI game tonight. It was his team leading tenth run scored in the post season.

Although Glendon Rusch gave up three runs in three relief innings he earned the victory. 

In the top of the 8th, John Franco gave up a walk & a single but was able keep the Cards from scoring to earn the hold.

In the top of the 9th, Armando Benitez gave up a leadoff single to Carlos Hernandez. Eli Marrero came in to pinch run for him & advanced on a defensive indifference. Armando Benitez then walked Placido Polanco. 

After registering the second out on a Fernando Vina force play, the Mets had another defensive indifference call during Edgar Renteria's at bat.

But Benitez was able to strike out Renteria & then Jim Edmonds flew out to right field to Timo Perez to end the game. The Mets won the game 10-6 scoring a post season high ten runs.

Mets Triva: The ten runs were the most runs the Mets scored in the post season since Game #2 of the 1973 World Series. It was the second most runs scored the Mets had scored in the post season up to that point, in 1969 NLCS Game #2 they scored eleven runs.

Four Mets players had a multi-RBI game, Robin Ventura (3) Mike Piazza (2) Todd Zeile (2) Benny Agbayani (2).

The Mets were now one game away from advancing to the 2000 World Series, it would be their first World Series appearance in 14 years since the 1986 Championship season.