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

Saturday August 12th 2000: As Bobby Valentines New York Mets were chasing the Atlanta Braves for the NL East title, on this day the Mets were just 2 1/2 games out of first place at 68-47.

They hosted Dusty Baker's San Francisco Giants (64-50) who were atop the NL West. This was to be a preview of that years NLDS in which the Mets took in five games.

The Mets sent Mike Hampton to the mound against Sean Estes. This game was famous for a mental mistake by Mets outfielder, the Popular Benny Agbayani.

In the 3rd inning the Mets scored on a solo HR by new comer Mike Bordick. Bordick a veteran short stop, was brought over from Baltimore in a trade for Melvin Mora to replace the injured Rey Ordonez down the stretch. 

	San Francisco Giants				New York Mets
1	Marvin Benard	CF		1	Mike Bordick	SS
2	Bill Mueller	3B		2	Derek Bell	RF
3	Barry Bonds	LF		3	Edgardo Alfonzo	2B
4	Jeff Kent	2B		4	Todd Zeile	1B
5	Ellis Burks	RF		5	Benny Agbayani	LF
6	Rich Aurilia	SS		6	Jay Payton	CF
7	J.T. Snow	1B		7	Todd Pratt	C
8	Bobby Estalella	C		8	Joe McEwing	3B
9	Shawn Estes	P		9	Mike Hampton	P

In the top of the 4th inning, the Mets had the one run lead as the Giants Jeff Kent led off with a double. Ellis Burks reached on an error, but then Rich Aurilla grounded out.

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, he made the grab & records the out. Being the nice guy Benny is, he gives the ball to a seven year old boy in the stands. The only problem was, there were only two outs and two runners on base. Jeff Kent & Ellis Burks both came around to score putting the Giants ahead 2-1.

Benny realizes the mistake, gets the ball back & tosses it in play again. Mets manager Bobby Valentine grinded his teeth in the Mets dugout & the game continued.In the dugout after the inning, Mets coach Mookie Wilson consoled Agbayani telling him "you cant take that back, you just have to out & play the game". It was an embarrassing moment for a good Mets player that always gave it his all & was a hell of a nice guy as well.

In the Mets 7th, Sean Estes walked pinch hitter Bubba Trammell, manager Dusty Baker relieved Estes with Frankie Rodriquez. After recording the next two outs, Edgardo Alfonzo walked & advanced on a wild pitch from Rodriquez. Todd Zeile then doubled scoring Trammell & Alfonzo with what was the games winning run. 

Mike Hampton pitched seven innings giving up two unearned runs & five hits, Turk Wendell held it down in the 8th & Armando Benitez saved it in the 9th. Benny Agbayani was off the hook. Agbayani was saved and we all laughed in the wake of victory & good times at Shea. That season he batted .289 with 15 HRs 60 RBIs & a .391 on base %.