Remembering Mets History (2000) Benny Agbayani Has a Momentary Lapse of Reason

Saturday August 12th, 2000: Bobby Valentine's New York Mets were playing great baseball, at this point in time they had won three straight games, as well as 14 of their last 16 games putting them just 2.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves. They were in 2.5 games ahead of the Diamondbacks in that year's top wild card spot.

On this night, the Mets hosted Dusty Baker's San Francisco Giants (64-50) who were atop the NL West.  The Giants featured sluggers Barry Bonds & Jeff Kent. This was to be a preview of that years NLDS in which the Mets would win in five games.

Bobby V sent Mike Hampton (11-7) to the mound against former Met Sean Estes (10-3). 

In the top of the 1st although the Giants put on two base runners Ellis Burks lined out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 3rd inning the Mets went on the board by a solo HR from the recently acquired Mike Bordick. Bordick a veteran short stop, was brought over from Baltimore in a trade for Melvin Mora to replace the injured Rey Ordonez. 

In the top of the 4th inning, Jeff Kent led off with a double. Ellis Burks reached on a throwing error at short from Bordick. After Rich Aurilla grounded out, Mets pitcher Mike Hampton hit J.T. Snow with a pitch to load the bases for Catcher Bobby Estalella.  

Estalella hit a fly ball to Benny Agbayani down the left field line. Agbayani made the catch recording the out. 

But then he had a mental lapse. Being the nice guy Benny always was, he handed the ball over to a seven-year-old boy sitting in the stands. 

The only problem was, there were only two outs in the inning & two runners were on base. During the hand off, Jeff Kent & Ellis Burks both came around to score putting the Giants ahead 2-1.

Benny realized his mental mistake, got the ball back from the kid then threw it back in play again. 

In the dugout, Mets manager Bobby Valentine grinded his teeth in frustration as the game continued. 

When Benny returned to the dugout after the inning ended, Mets coach Mookie Wilson consoled Agbayani telling him "You can't take that back, you just have to go out & play the game". 

Unfortunately, it was an embarrassing moment for a good Mets player who always gave it his all & was a real nice guy. In his next at bat in the bottom of the inning he struck out.

Quotes- Benny Agbayani: "I screwed up, I'm very sorry. It was a bad play a mental lapse. It should never have happened, but I'm glad we won".

In the bottom of the 6th Shawn Estes walked four Mets batters & threw a wile pitch but a double play erased the first chance to score. Then if Agbayani wasn't having enough of a bad night, he grounded out to short to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 7th, Sean Estes walked pinch hitter Bubba Trammell. Then manager Dusty Baker relieved Sean Estes with Frankie Rodriquez. After recording the next two outs, Edgardo Alfonzo drew a walk & advanced on Rodriquez's wild pitch.

Todd Zeile then hit a two-run double scoring both Bubba Trammell & Edgardo Alfonzo with what was the games winning run as the Mets took the 3-2 lead.  For Todd it was his 32nd double of the season, he would finish second to Edgardo Alfonzo (40) on the club with 36 two baggers that season.

In the top of the 8th, Turk Wendell held it down with a one-two-three inning. In the top of the 9th, although Armando Benitez gave up a lead off single, he retired the next three batters, striking out Barry Bonds to end the game earning his 29th save.

Mike Hampton would get the win his twelfth (12-7) as he pitched seven innings giving up two unearned runs & five hits, striking out three & walking four. 

For Benny Agbayani, he was off the hook after the Mets win. His momentary lapse of reason made all the highlight reels, as everyone got a laugh in the wake of Mets victory. 

In the Mets 2000 Pennant season Benny was the Mets main left fielder, batting .289 with career highs in HRs (15) doubles (19) RBIs (60) on base % (.391) & games played (119).