Remembering Mets History (2006): NLCS: Mets Good Until the Last Inning

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Thursday October 12th, 2006- NLCS Game #1- Shea Stadium, New York:  The 2006 New York Mets (97-65) were in first place for most regular season, winning the Eastern Divisional title rather easily. Manager Willie Randolph brought the Mets to their first post season in six years, with one of the most potent Mets offenses since the 1980's.

The Mets opponents were Tony LaRussa's; St. Louis' Cardinals (83-78).

 A sold out Shea Stadium, with a crowd of 56,311 hosted the first Game of the 2006 NLCS as Tom Glavine (15-7 / 3.82 / 131 Ks) went up against Jeff Weaver (8-14 / 5.76 ERA / 107 Ks). This would be one of Glavines best performances while pitching for the Mets, in the post season spot light. Willie Randolph & the Mets sure needed a big pitching performance, with Pedro Martinez & Orlando Hernandez both on the DL.


Starting Lineups


Glavine added another gem to his post season career throwing a four hit shut out over seven innings. He only struck out two Cards, walked two and never had a runner reach third base. Guillermo Mota & Billy Wagner both pitched perfect eight & ninth innings respectivley, to seal the 2-0 shut out.

The Mets offense only needed one big blow and it came in the 6th inning off Jeff Weaver. With two outs, Paul Loduca singled to left field. Then Carlos Beltran, who had hit 41 regular season HRs, blasted a long shot over the right center field fence. The Mets took the opener 2-0.



The Mets lost Game Two, 9-6 as reliever; Billy Wagner gave up three runs in the 9th inning. The Mets were then shut out 5-0 by Jeff Suppan in Game Three. The  losing pitcher; Steve Trachsel seemed to have given up and on this night lost the faith of his team forever,as he never returned in a Mets uniform.


Sunday October 15th, 2006 NLCS Game #4 - Busch Stadium, St. Louis Missouri.

With the Mets down in the series two games to one, there was some concern in Mat land. The bats were asleep & they needed to be woken up fast. They also needed a big night from their pitching.

Willie Randolph sent Oliver Perez (3-13 / 6.55 ERA ) to the mound against St. Louis' Anthony Reyes (5-8 / 5.06 ERA / 72 Ks). Perez had come over late in the season in the Roberto Hernandez, Xavier Nady deal.

This was the night the Mets bats finally woke up. The Mets hitters went through six Cardinal pitchers, scoring twelve runs on 14 hits, evening the series at two games each.

                      Starting Lineups

The Mets were down 1-0 after a Yadier Molina RBI single in the 2nd inning. In the top of the 3rd, Carlos Beltran & David Wright hit solo HRs putting the Mets up 2-1.

Carlos Delgado had a big five RBI night, including a two run HR in the 5th inning. In the 6th inning, Jose Reyes & Paul LoDuca both singled & Carlos Beltran walked. Delgado then hit a ground rule double scoring Jose Reyes & David Wright putting the Mets up 7-3.

Also in that inning Sean Green & Jose Valentin both singled giving the Mets a 11-3 lead. Carlos Beltran also had a big night, in the 7th inning he blasted his second HR of the night, capping off the 12-5 win. Beltran had three hits onthe night, two HRs, two walks, two RBIs & four runs scored.

Shawn Green & Jose Valentin both had a pair of hits on the night as well.

In Game Five The Cards edged the Mets 4-2, as Jeff Weaver beat out Tom Glavine.I was back to New York, do or die for the Mets. Centerfieldmaz was in attendance for this one in a wild, loud & excited Shea Stadium filled with a full house of 56,334.


 
Wednesday October 18th, 2006 NLCS Game #6- Shea Stadium, New York.
 Wille Randolph sent John Maine (6-5 / 3.60 / 71 Ks) to the mound against Cards ace; Chris Carpenter ( 15-8 / 3.09 / 184 Ks). Maine had come over in the off season in the Kris Benson trade & pitched well. With the injuries to Pedro Martinez & Orlando Hernandez he got the ball in the big spot.

Starting Lineups


In the 1st inning, Jose Reyes got things started with a lead off HR. In the 4th inning, Carlos Beltran & David Wright reached with base hits. Sean Green  then singled & drove in the second run for New York.

After a lively 7th inning stretch, the Shea crowd let former Mets reliever, now a Cardinal; Braden Looper, have it as he entered the game. Then with two outs, pinch hitter Michael Tucker singled and Jose Reyes followed with another hit. Both runners took off on a sucessful double steal, Paul Loduca then drove them both in with a single center field, making it 4-0 Mets.

On the mound it was one of Johnny Maine's finest moments as a Met, as he stepped up big into the spot light & pitched a shut out into the 6th inning, allowing only two hits while striking out five. He wasn't to happy getting pulled out of the game by manager Willie Randolph in the 6th inning, but left to a standing ovation.


Three Mets relievers; Chad Bradford (1 inning), Guillermo Mots (0.2 innings) & Aaron Heilman (1 inning) led the way to closer; Billy Wagner. Wagner struggled again, giving up three hits including a two run double to So Taguchi. 


2006 NLCS Game Seven is still a tough one loss to look back on. Especially since it was the last post season appearance for the Mets. The game was highlighted (for New York) by Endy Chavez stealing a HR in the 8th inning making one of the greatest over the fence catches in post season & Mets history.

Oliver Perez stepped up pitching six good innings allowing only a run. The score remained tied in a 1-1 nail bitter until the 8th inning. Aaron Heilman,then served up a two run HR to Yadier Molina, the catcher who had then just hit .216 on the season with just 6 HRs in 417 at bats.

That was it, the Mets did threaten in the bottom of the inning as Jose Valentin & Endy Chavez both singled. Cliff Floyd then struck out & Jose Reyes lined out. Paul Loduca walked to load the bases then Adam Wainwright struck out Carlos Beltran looking to end it. 

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