Remembering Mets History (2000) NLCS Game #1: Mets Take Opener 7-2 Behind Mike Hampton's Seven Shut Out Innings
52,255 fans all donning red packed Busch Stadium in St. Louis to see Tony Larussa’s Cardinals (95-67) take on Bobby Valentines New York Mets (94-68) in Game #1 of the 2000 NLCS.
The Cardinals finished first in NL Central winning 95 games (95-67). The offense was led by Jim Edmonds 42 HRs & 108 RBIs, as slugger Mark McGwire was limited to just 89 games but still hit 32 HRs.
The Cards swept the reigning NL Champion Atlanta Braves in the NLDS three games to none. The Mets were coming off a four game NLDS win over the San Francisco Giats.
Tonight's starting pitchers were Mike Hampton (15-10 / 3.14 ERA / 151 Ks) for New York against St. Louis' Darryl Kile (20-9 / 3.91 ERA / 192 Ks).
In the top of the 1st, the Mets struck first, the team's leadoff man Timo Perez, who was a September call up & filling in for an injured Derek Bell had hit .286 in 24 regular season games & batted .294 in the NLDS (5-17) with three RBI's & two runs scored, doubled to right field to start the game.
Piazza doubled to left field scoring Timo Perez with the first run of the series. Alfonzo moved to third on the double then scored on Robin Ventura’s sac fly making it 2-0 Mets.
The game remained quiet over the next three innings.
Darryl Kile pitched seven innings, allowing the three runs on five hits, walking two & striking out three. In the top of the 8th inning,
Tonight's starting pitchers were Mike Hampton (15-10 / 3.14 ERA / 151 Ks) for New York against St. Louis' Darryl Kile (20-9 / 3.91 ERA / 192 Ks).
Darryl Kile then threw a wild pitch, advancing Perez to third. Kile then walked Edgardo Alfonzo putting two on for Mike Piazza.
Piazza doubled to left field scoring Timo Perez with the first run of the series. Alfonzo moved to third on the double then scored on Robin Ventura’s sac fly making it 2-0 Mets.
In the bottom of the 1st inning, Mike Hampton got in trouble with a pair of singles & a walk to load the bases then got himself out of the jam, getting Carlos Hernandez to ground out to second base to end the inning.
In the top of the 5th, Mike Hampton, a good hitting pitch who batted .274 in the inning reached on an infield hit. He advanced to second base Timo Perez's ground ball out. Edgardo Alfonzo drove an RBI single to left field scoring Hampton making it 3-0 Mets.
Mike Hampton gave up a hit in the next two innings. In the top of the 7th Placido Polanco led off with a base hit. After Mike Hampton struck out Fernando Tatis, he walked Fernando Vino. Hampton then got two fly ball outs to exit the inning.
Mike Hampton pitched seven shutout innings, allowing six hits, walking three & striking out four.
In the bottom of the 8th, John Franco pitched a scoreless inning just allowing a base hit to Carlos Hernandez.
In the top of the 9th inning, the Cards Mike James was pitching his second inning. Todd Zeile hit led off with his first HR of the post season, giving New York a 4-0 lead.
Todd Zeile Trivia: It was the first of Zeile's NLCS leading, eight RBIs.
Next Benny Agbayani singled to left field, Jay Payton followed with a two run HR, giving the Mets a 6-0 lead.
In the top of the 9th, Armando Benitez came on to pitch. Ray Lankford led off with a double. Benitez retired the next two red birds then Edgar Renteria reached on Mike Bordick's error & Lankford scored the Cardinals first run.
Jim Edmonds followed with an RBI base hit to right field scoring Renteria making it 6-2.
Eric Davis then grounded to Edgardo Alfonzo at third to end the game, giving the Mets a one game lead in the series.
Mike Hampton got his first career post season win, as in four post seasons he was 0-1 in five games.