Remembering Mets History: (1989) Greg Jeffries Ties Club Record With Four Extra Base HIts In A Game

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Thursday September 7th, 1989: Davey Johnson's Mets were in third place (74-65) but just 3.5 games behind the first place Chicago Cubs. 

Tonight, they hosted their NL East Rivals; Whitey Herzog's St. Louis Cardinals (76-63) who were 1.5 games behind Chicago & two games ahead of the Mets. 

23,354 came to Shea Stadium to see Frank Viola (10-16) go up against Ted Power (6-6).

It was an overall big night for Mets bats, 13 runs on 15 hits in a 13-1 win, but it was a personal huge night for Greg Jefferies. Jefferies tied a club record with four extra base hits on this night, four hits with two HRs, five RBIs & two runs scored




In the 1st inning, Jefferies batting leadoff, doubled to start his big night. The Mets left him stranded as Juan Samuel grounded out & Power struck out Howard Johnson & Darryl Strawberry.

In the home 3rd, Jeffries hit a two run HR, his 5th of the year, scoring Kevin Elster. Howard Johnson followed with a solo HR to make it 3-0 Mets. Ted Power was knocked out of the game & reliever Matt Kinzer came in for St. Louis.

In the 4th, the Mets added four more runs; Kevin McReynolds doubled & Dave Magadan singled. Barry Lyons then doubled to bring in McReynolds. The pitcher Frank Viola added a two-run single. Greg Jefferies then collected his third extra base hit of the night, with a double. Frank Viola would score on Terry Pendelton's error fielding Juan Samuels grounder, making it 7-0. 

In the 5th inning, with one out Dave Magadan singled & Barry Lyons doubled. Kevin Elster grounded out, but Magadan scored making it 8-1. Then Greg Jefferies went into the Mets record books, as he hit a two run HR off Bob Tewksbury, it was his second HR of the game & his 6th of the year. Jeffries four extra base hits in the game tied a Mets record. 

In the 6th, Dave Magadan's sac fly scored Howard Johnson. In the 8th Magadan brought in another run when he grounded out to second base.

Frank Viola & the Mets cruised to a 13-1 win. Viola went to 11-16 on the year. Jeff Musselman & Julio Machado closed out the Mets win. 

The Mets finished second to the Cubs that year, six games back, with the Cards in third a game behind the Mets.

Greg Jefferies would bat .258 with 12 HRs 28 doubles & 56 RBIs. The next year he would lead the NL in doubles with 40, hitting 15 HRs & 68 RBIs while batting .283. He spent five seasons with the Mets, coming up with huge expectations that never panned out.

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