Remembering Mets History (2006) NLCS - Mets Take it To Game Seven But Fall Short of World Series
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. Carlos Beltran (41 HRs 116 RBIs) Carlos Delgado (38 HRs 114 RBIs) David Wright (26 HRs 116 RBIs .311 Ave.) Jose Reyes .300 Ave league leading 64 stolen bases 19 HRs 81 RBIs & 122 runs scored).
Pedro Martinez who was limited to 23 games due to injuries & Billy Wagner led the bullpen with 40 saves & a 2.24 EA. Long time Met Steve Trachsel went 15-8 & that year saw the emergence of John Maine (6-5) taking a major role in the rotation.
In the NLDS the Mets swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in three games.
The Mets were coming into the series with pitching issues, as Pedro Martinez & Orlando Hernandez were both injured.
The Cardinals won the NL Central with the least number of wins for any MLB divisional leader. But they rolled in the post season beating the San Diego Padres three games to one in the NLDS.
Their offense was led by Albert Pujols (49 HRs 137 RBIS .331 Ave) Scott Rolen (22 HRs 95 RBIs) Jim Edmonds & Juan Encarcnacion & speedy David Eckstein (.292 Ave).
Suppan (12-7) with former Met Jason Isringhausen posting 33 saves & rookie Adam Wainwright who would play a major role in the series.
After a rain out the previous night, the series began a day later. A sold-out Shea Stadium, with a paid crowd of 56,311 hosted Game #1 of the NLCS as former Met Darryl Strawberry threw out the ceremonial first pitch to get things going. centerfieldmaz was in attendance on this night as well.
The Mets Tom Glavine (15-7 / 3.82 ERA / 131 Ks) went up against St. Louis' Jeff Weaver (8-14 / 5.76 ERA / 107 Ks).
After shutting out Los Angeles for six innings, Glavine would blank the Cardinals thru seven innings tonight for 13 consecutive scoreless innings, putting in another fine performance.
On the night he shut out the Cardinals for seven innings, allowing just four hits, striking out two & walking two on the night. Glavine did not allow a Cardinal base runner to even reach as far as third base.
Jeff Weaver would hold down the Mets for five innings. In the bottom of the 6th inning, he retired Tom Glavine & Jose Reyes, then with two outs, Paul Loduca singled to left field. Carlos Beltran, who had 41 regular season HRs, blasted a long shot over the right center field fence giving the Mets all they needed to take the opener 2-0.
In the top of the 8th, with two outs Mets reliever Guillermo Mota walked David Eckstein but got
Preston Wilson to pop up to end the inning.
Preston Wilson to pop up to end the inning.
Billy Wagner Trivia: For Wagner it was his third save of the post season, having notched two in the NLDS. In five post season appearances in his career spanning four post seasons with Houston he had never notched a save. Up to that point in the 2006 post season, Wagner had allowed one run in four innings of work in four appearances, the rest of the series would not go as well for him.
Paul LoDuca & Carlos Delgado each had multi-two hit games as the Mets collected just six hits in the game.
______________________________________________
In the top of the 2nd, Yadier Molin collected a two run double off Mets started John Maine. In the bottom of the 2nd Endy Chavez doubled & Jose Reyes base hit brought him in for a 4-2 Mets lead.
In the top of the 3rd, a two run HR by Jim Edmonds made it tied game.
In the home 6th, Jose Reyes drew a walk & scored on Paul LoDuca's RBI hit giving New York a 6-4 lead. But tonight, the Mets bullpen had problems.
In the top of the 9th Billy Wagner gave up a leadoff HR to So Taguchi, then two more runs as Scott Spezio had a multi-three RBI game as the Mets took a 9-6 loss.
The NLCS was now evened up at two, as the series was heading to St. Louis.
______________________________________________
The Cards Jeff Suppan shut out the Mets for eight innings, allowing just three hits. In the top of the 9th, Josh Kinney finished off the combined shut out. New York's Steve Trachsel gave up five runs, including a HR to the pitcher Jeff Suppan, taking the loss. It was on this night it appeared Steve Trachsel had given up on his team. He now had lost their support, after six seasons with the Mets this would be his start in a Mets uniform as he was soon traded away.
______________________________________________
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 New York. The once potent bats were asleep & needed to be woken up- fast. With two of his starters down, manager Willie Randolph sent Oliver Perez (3-13 / 6.55 ERA) to the mound to face St. Louis' Anthony Reyes (5-8 / 5.06 ERA / 72 Ks).
Oliver Perez had come over to the Mets late in the season after Duaner Sanchez was lost for the remainder of the year, after being injured in a taxicab car accident. Sanchez & Roberto Hernandez were brought in, in an exchange for Xavier Nady. In seven games, Perez was 1-3 with a 6.38 ERA.
Thru the first four NLCS games, Molina was batting .462 as he collected six hits with a HR & four RBIs.
In the top of the 3rd, the Mets bats did wake up. With one out, Carlos Beltran hit his second HR of the series, two batters later David Wright followed with another solo shot putting the Mets up 2-1. It was Wright's first HR & Rbi of the series.
In the top of the 5th, Paul LoDuca reached on an error at second by Ronnie Belliard. Carlos Beltran collected his second hit of the night with a single to right field.
Carlos Delgado then hit a three run HR off Brad Thompson putting the Mets up 5-2. It was Delgado's third HR of the series, & his seventh RBI.
In the top of the 6th inning, Jose Reyes & Paul LoDuca started the inning with back-to-back singles off pitcher Josh Hancock, who then walked Carlos Beltran to load the bases.
Carlos Delgado then hit a ground rule double scoring Reyes & LoDuca putting the Mets up 7-3.
After David Wright walked, Tyler Johnson came on to pitch for the Cardinals. Sean Green singled to left field bringing in Carlos Beltran with the Mets eighth run. Jose Valentin followed with a bases clearing three run double scoring Delgado, Wright & Green giving the Mets an 11-3 lead.
In the home 6th, Jim Edmonds & Yadier Molina hit solo HRs making it an 11-5 game.
On the mound for New York, Oliver Perez benefited from the offensive output, as he gave up five runs on nine hits thru 5.2 innings. The Mets bullpen of Cad Bradford, Pedro Feliciano & Guillermo Mota shut out the Cards the rest of the way.
Beltran's Multi HR Game: In the top of the 7th, Carlos Beltran blasted his second HR of the game, a solo shot off former Met Braden Looper capping off the 12-5 win. Beltran collected three hits with two HRs, two walks, two RBIs & four runs scored. He joined teammate Carlos Delgado (2006) as well as Rusty Staub (1973 NLCS), Gary Carter (1986 World Series) & Edgardo Alfonzo (1999 NLDS) as the only Mets to hit two HRs in a post season game.
The Mets went on to a 12-5 win, evening the series at two games each.
Game #5 had to be postponed another day as rain forced the second rain out of the series.
_____________________________________________
In a Game One pitching rematch, Jeff Weaver & the Cards edged the Mets 4-2, as Tom Glavine took his first loss of this post season.
In the top of the 4th, Carlos Delgado drew a walk & Shawn Green hit a ground rule double. Jose Valentin then collected a two run double putting the Mets up 2-0. For Valentin in was his second double & fifth RBI in the last two games.
In the bottom of the 5th, David Eckstein singled & Preston Wilson brought him in with a double to right field giving St. Louis the lead. In the bottom of the 6th, Chris Duncan added a solo HR off Pedro Feliciano sealing the 4-2 Cardinal win.
Adam Wainwright came on in the bottom of the 8th & collected a four out save, his first of the series, his second of the post season.
Cardinals History: Tonight's game was the final game to played at the Old Busch Stadium.
____________________________________________
The Mets fans stood by their team, giving them a boost of support as 56,334 filled up Shea Stadium, with centerfieldmaz in attendance again, for Game #6.
Mets manager Wille Randolph sent John Maine (6-5 / 3.60 / 71 Ks) to the mound against the Cardinals ace, Chris Carpenter (15-8 / 3.09 / 184 Ks). It was a big spot for the young John Maine in a rematch of Game #2 starters with the season on the line.
Actor Matt Dillon threw out the ceremonial first pitch as things got underway.
In the top of the 1st, John Maine got into a bases loaded jam with a pair of singles & hitting Juan Encarnacion with a pitch. Scott Rolen flew out to right field to end the inning.
In the top of the 3rd, with two on John Maine got Jim Edmonds to fly out & then struck out Juan Encarnacion to end that inning.
In the bottom of the 4th inning, Carlos Beltran & David Wright both reached with base hits. Sean Green then singled into centerfield scoring Beltran bringing in the Mets second run.
Chad Bradford got the last out of the 6th inning. In the top of the 7th inning Bradford gave up a leadoff single then got Yadier Molina to fly out. Mets manager Willie Randolph brought in Guillermo Mota, who got Chris Duncan to hit into an inning ending double play.
After a lively 7th inning stretch, the Shea crowd let former Mets reliever, Braden Looper, have it as he entered the game. After Looper got the first two outs, pinch hitter Michael Tucker singled & stole second.
Jose Reyes followed with an infield base hit. Both runners then took off on a successful double steal.
With runners on second & third Paul Loduca singled to center field, bringing in both runners making it a 4-0 Mets lead.In the top of the 8th, Aaron Heilman got through the inning holding the 4-0 lead.
In the top of the 9th, closer Billy Wagner struggled again. Wagner who had saved 40 in the regular season, gave up a leadoff single then a double putting two on with no one outs. Wagner retired Ronnie Belliard & Yadier Molina but with two outs So Taguchi doubled to left scoring both runners making it a 4-2 game.
Willie Randolph stuck with Wagner who got the final out as David Eckstein grounded to Jose Valentin. John Maine collected his first & only career post season win.
The Mets won the game 4-2 as they evened up the series at three games each. It all came down to a Game Seven.
_______________________________
Former Mets pitcher & current broadcaster Ron Darling threw out the ceremonial first pitch. & long time Mets fan Glen Close sang the National Anthem.
With former Mets players & celebrities alike attending the final NLCS game at Shea, including Donald & Melania Trump, New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick, Ron Howard, Mathew Broderick, Lorraine Bracco, Hilary Swank, Matt Dillon, Joseph Giannascoli, Tim Robbins, singers Aaron Neville, Linda Eders, Constantine Maroulis, Michael Amante, & New York Mayor Bloomberg.
Oliver Perez's opponent Jeff Suppan who had shut out New York for eight innings in Game #3 got the start for St. Louis.
In the bottom of the 1st inning, Carlos Beltran doubled to left field hitting safely in his fifth straight post season game. Carlos Delgado then walked, reaching base for the first time since Game Five.
David Wright then singled into right field scoring Beltran giving the Mets a 1-0 lead. Wright had now hit safely in four straight games driving in his sixth run of the post season.
In the top of the 2nd, singles by Jim Edmonds & Yadier Molina put two on for the Cards. Ronnie Beliard laid down a bunt scoring Jim Edmonds to tie the game at one.
In the top of the 3rd, with two men on Juan Encarnacion grounded into a double play David Wright to Jose Valentin to Carlos Delgado to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 4th, Carlos Delgado led off with a walk then with two outs Jose Valentin was hit by a pitch reaching base. But Endy Chavez then flew out to center fielder Jim Edmonds ending the threat.
Jim Edmons was then thrown out at first base for the inning ending double play.
Quotes- Endy Chavez: "When I saw it in my glove, I looked for Edmonds & I saw him right next to the short stop & I said, we have a chance to get him at first".
The score remained tied in the 1-1 nail bitter until the 8th inning as Chad Bradford held down the 7th inning & Jeff Suppan continued to keep the Mets
The score remained tied in the 1-1 nail bitter until the 8th inning as Chad Bradford held down the 7th inning & Jeff Suppan continued to keep the Mets
scoring quiet.
Scott Rolen then singled to left field. Next Heilman served up a devastating heart crushing two run HR to catcher Yadier Molina.
Quotes Aaron Heilman: "It was definitely one of those pitches where as soon as I threw it, that's not where I wanted it to go. I knew it was up. Usually when your off-speed pitches are up, it's not a good thing."
Molina Trivia: During the regular season, Molina had hit just .216 with 6 HRs but in the NLCS he hit .348 with 2 HRs & six RBIs. In his career Molina hit .305 against New York with 3 HRs & 28 RBIs in 98 games.
Quotes- David Wright: "It just seemed like an eternity for him to round the bases".
Adam Wainwright got Carlos Beltran to look at a curveball with the bat on his shoulder for the third strike & final out of the game.
Beltran Trivia: In the NLCS Carlos Beltran hit .296 with eight hits, three HRs a double, four RBIs & a 1.054 OPS. He also drew four walks & had 95 walks in the regular season (10th most in the NL).
The Cardinals went on to beat the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.
