Remembering Mets History (2015) The Mets Win Eleventh Straight Tying a Franchise Record

Sunday April 12th, 2015: On this night Terry Collins New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 at Turner Field. The win put them at .500 (3-3) on the new season.

It was a good night, and no one knew it at the time, but it was the start of some good things that would take the Mets all the way to the World Series.

Bart- Big Sexy: The legend of Folk Hero Bartolo Colon also known as "Big Sexy" began to grow.

Bartolo Colon won his second game of the season to get to 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA, on his way to another 14-game winning season. 

Also, at bat Bartolo collected a 4th inning RBI base hit off Alex Wood scoring Wilmer Flores, breaking the 2-2 tie. 

Bart Trivia: It was Colon's first RBI in ten years, his last coming in 2005 while with the  L.A. Angels.

On this night, Jeurys Familia notched his first save of the season. It was the start Familia becoming one of the league's top closers that year as saved 43 games tying a then Mets record.

This victory was the start of the Mets 11 game win streak that would put them in first place & start making everyone believe this team was on to good things.

Monday April 13th: The Mets home opener was an exciting one with lots of optimism for the 2015 season. The Mets opened up a ten-game home stand at Citi Field, starting out with a three-game sweep of the lowly Philadelphia Phillies. 

Phillies Trivia: That year the Phillies finished last (63-99) for the second straight season. From 2013 thru 2017 they would finish fourth or last in the East. each year, losing 89 or more games each time.

In the bottom of the 4th inning, Daniel Murphy doubled. Then Juan Lagares reached on an infield base hit with Murph scoring the first run of the game. 

In the bottom of the 8th, Michael Cuddyer singled to center. Then Daniel Murphy reached on a Chase Utley error at second allowing Cuddyer to get to third. Travis d'Arnaud's then hit a sac fly scoring Cuddyer for the Mets second run.

Jacob deGrom earned his first win of the year, as he went into the 7th inning shutting out the Phillies on seven hits with three K's. The New York bullpen of Carlos Torres, Jerry Blevins & Jeurys Familia finished off the combined 2-0 shut out.

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Tuesday April 14th: Tonight Matt Harvey (1-0) went up against the Phil's David Buchanan (0-1) in the second home game of the season at home in front of 39,489 fans.

In the bottom of the 1st, Curtis Granderson & David Wright singled & Michael Cuddyer drove in the first run with a one out single.

In the bottom of the 2nd, Juan Lagares singled, Wilmer Flores was hit by a pitch & Curtis Granderson reached on a ball in front of the plate. Lucas Duda cleared the bases with a three run double giving Matt Harvey a 4-0 lead.

Harvey would give up HRs to Cody Ashe & Chase Utley, who hit two on the night, the other off Sean Gilmartin. 

In the bottom of the 5th, Lucas Duda led off with his s second double of the game then scored on a play at the plate sliding in safely on Travis d'Arnaud's single. 

In the 7th Daniel Murphy hit his first HR of the year, coming off Dustin McGownan. 

David Wright Injury: In the top of the 8th, David Wright singled then stole second base but as he slid into the base he strained his hamstring. He was removed from the game & would miss four months of action returning in August.

The Mets won the game 6-5 for their second straight.

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Wednesday April 15th:On Jackie Robinson Night-April 15th, former Mets Al Jackson & Mookie Wilson threw out the ceremonial first pitches. 

Jonathan Niese went up against Jerome Williams. In the top of the 1st, the Phil's went on the board scrapping out a run on Odubel Herrera's triple & Chase Utley's ground out.

In the bottom of the 2nd, Eric Campbell singled & advanced on a wild pitch. Juan Lagares drove him in with a base hit to center. In the 3rd, Travis d'Arnaud hit his first HR of the year to put New York ahead.

In the bottom of the 4th, after Juan Lagares collected his second hit of the game, Jonathan Niese drove in his first run of the year with an RBI single.

Jon Niese Batting Trivia: Niese was a pretty good hitter who hit a career .150. He drove in four runs that season, matching his career high which he accomplished four times, including three straight seasons. Jon had 19 career RBIs.

In the home 5th, Lucas Duda hit his first HR of the season making it 4-1 Mets. Duda added an RBI double later in the game, his fourth double of the year giving him back-to-back multi RBI games totaling five runs driven in in the two games.

Jonathan Niese allowed just one run on nine hits in 6.1 innings for his first win of the year. The Mets won it 6-1 sweeping the home opening series with the Phillies while on a four-game win streak.

Quotes- Terry Collins: "It means a lot to our fans & it means a lot to our organization. I looked at today's game as a very big game for us due to the loss of David, I wanted to see how the guys came out. They came out ready to go."

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Thursday April 16th: Next Mike Redmond's Miami Marlins rolled into town for a four-game weekend set series. The Marlins had started out the year 1-6 but had just taken two straight from the Braves. They were about to begin another five game losing streak.

Tonight Dillon Gee went up against Jarred Cosart. Gee would give up a long two run HR to Giancarlo & a solo shot to Martin Prado. In the home 5th, Eric Campbell & Juan Lagares led off with singles. Then Wilmer Flores hit a three-run shot off Jared Cosart tying up the game. It was Wilmer's first of the year.

In the top of the 6th, Gee allowed a lead off hit then walked two batters loading the bases. Mets manager Terry Collins brought in Rafael Montero who walked Marcell Ozuna bringing in the go ahead run. 

In the bottom of the 6th, Lucas Duda led off with his fifth double of the year. Michael Cuddyer then singled bringing in Lucas to tie the game up. To batters later Eric Capbell hit a sac fly scoring Cuddyer to make it 5-4 Mets. 

In the top of the 7th, the Marlins came back with a run to tie it.

In the bottom of the 7th inning with the score tied at five, walks to John Mayberry & Curtis Granderson put two on for the hot hitting Lucas Duda. Duda drove a base hit into center scoring Mayberry with the go ahead run.

Duda Trivia: For Duda he now had three straight multi-hit games & driven in a run in three straight games as well raising his average to .395.

Michael Cuddyer's infield hit down the third base line brought in Curtis Granderson with the 7th run. The Mets won it 7-5 as the win streak went to five games as Jerry Blevins collected the victory in relief

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Friday April 17th: On Friday night 38,753 came out to Citi Field, as Bartolo Colon (2-0) was going for his third straight win matching up against David Phelps.

Before the game Mets centerfielder Juan Lagares was given his 2014 Gold Glove Award. Juan flashed his leather making two fine catches on the night as well.

In the top of the 1st, Giancarlo Stanton hit another HR setting new Marlins franchise record with 155. The previous years NL HR Leader Stanton, hit five HRs vs the Mets that season, more HRs than any other team.

But Bartolo did not get rattled & continued his fine pitching, not allowing another run & scattering five more hits through seven innings of work. 

In the bottom of the 5th, David Phelps gave up a hit to Wilmer Flores & walked two loading the bases. Bartolo Colon then hit a sac fly to center scoring Eric Campbell to tie the game.

Bartolo Hitting Trivia: It was the second straight game Bartolo had driven in a run. Before this season he had not driven in a run since 2005. In the 2015 Mets NL Pennant year he would set a new career high with four RBIs this season.

Jerry Blevins pitched a scoreless 8th & Jeurys Familia earned his fifth save of the week. 

In the 6th Juan Lagares & Lucas Duda led off with base hits. Michael Cuddyer then reached safely on an infield hit scoring Lagares. For Cuddyer it was his his fourth RBI in his last six games. Eric Campbell added a sac fly scoring Duda giving the Mets a 3-1 lead.

Fine Defense: In the top of the 7th the Marlins put two men on for the first time in the game. With two on & one out, JT Realmuto hit a sinking liner to center field where Juan Lagares made a diving catch.

Next, Adeiny Hechavarria chopped a bouncer between the mound & third base, 42 year old Bartolo Colon rushed off the mound back handed the ball throwing the runner out for the third out. He clapped his glove to a huge ovation as he walked off the field.

In the 8th, back to back doubles from Cuddyer & Daniel Murphy gave the Mets their fourth run in the  4-1 win. As they took the first two from the Marlins they had won six straight.

Michael Cuddyer Trivia: Cuddyer who had come over from the Rockies as a free agent had hit safely in his last seven games, with a hit in nine of the ten games he had played for a .333 average. Injuries would shorten his season to 117 games while batting .259.

Saturday April 18th: On Saturday night Fireworks Night, the second sell out crowd of the season came out to see Jacob deGrom pitched seven shutout innings, striking out eight Marlins without walking anyone to earn his second win.

Travis d'Arnaud & Wilmer Flores led the way with HRs, as Juan Lagares & Eric Campbell added RBI singles as well.

In the 8th, Sean Gilmartin gave up an RBI double to Dee Strange Gordon for the Marlins first run.

In the 9th, Mike Morse led off with a HR. Next Dee Gordon would collect his fifth hit of the night with a two run single off Carlos Torres making it a one run game. Gordon went 5-5 with three RBIs on the night

With two outs, Alex Torres came on wearing his new large padded hat & struck out  Christian Yelich to end the game & earn a save. The Mets win streak went to seven games. 

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Sunday April 19th: In the Sunday afternoon matinee, the big crowds continued as 41,234 came out to Citi Field to see Matt Harvey (2-0) go up against Tom Koehler (1-1). Harvey returning from Tommy John surgery this season is going for his third win against no losses.

In the bottom of the 4th inning, the Mets were down 1-0 as they put up a big seven run inning. They sent 12 men to the plate collecting six hits with three walks. 

Curtis Granderson & Travis d'Arnaud led off with base hits, then Lucas Duda walked to load up the bases. Daniel Murphy & Juan Lagares collected back-to-back RBI base hits putting the Mets up 2-1.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis drew a bases loaded walk for the Mets third run. Then Ruben Tejada provided a bases clearing three run double scoring Murph, Juan Lagares & Kirk Nieuwenhuis. 

It was the first of three Tejada multi-three RBI games on the season.

Big Injuries: Travis d'Arnaud added another RBI single scoring Tejada making it 7-1. But in the bottom of the 7th, d'Arnaud was hit with a pitch which broke his hand. The Mets would lose d'Arnaud for almost two months. 

Also in this game Jerry Blevins was hit by a line drive & left the game with a fractured left forearm. He would reinjure his forearm & be out the rest of the season.

 Matt Harvey earned the victory to get to 3-0, allowing four runs on four hits with seven K's. Buddy Carlyle gave up three runs in one inning pitched but Jeurys Familia earned his 6th save closing out the 7-6 win. The Mets swept the four game series & had now won eight in a row. 

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Tuesday April 21st: On the final series of the homestand, the Mets hosted Fredi Gonzalez's Atlanta Braves for the final three games of the home stand in front of 21,033 fans at Citi Field.

Braves Trivia: The Braves were in the second year of their four year stretch with a losing record. In that time Fredi Gonzalez would be replaced by Brian Snitker who would mange the Braves from 2016-2026.

Although Atlanta put two base runners on in the 3rd, 4th & 5th innings Jonathon Niese held them scoreless into the 7th inning.

In the bottom of the 5th, the Braves walked Eric Campbell then allowed consecutive singles to
Kevin Plawecki & Wilmer Flores. An error by Braves second baseman Phil Gosselin led to Eric Campbell scoring the first run & giving pitcher Jon Niese an RBI. 

Curtis Granderson then hit the first of his three RBI hits on the night finally driving in his first run of the year making it 3-0. Juan Lagares then drove in the fourth run of the inning with a base hit.

In the bottom of the 6th, Braves reliever Brandon Cunniff walked two Mets then Curtis Granderson collected his second RBI hit with an RBI single.

In the bottom of the 8th, Kevin Plawecki & Wilmer Flores led off with singles. Curtis Ganderson then hit a ground rule double, for his third hit & fourth RBI of the night making it 6-2.

Grandy Man Trivia: The four RBIs were the first of two Multi- Four RBI games he would have on the year. Granderson had 117 multi-RBI games for the Mets that season.

Juan Lagares added an RBI sac fly as Jon Niese earned his second win on the season, giving up just one run in 6.2 innings to get to 2-0. 

Juan Lagres Home Hit Streak Mets Record: Juan Lagares hit safely in all eleven games of the win streak batting .342 with six RBIs & six runs scored. 

He would began the season hitting safely in 14 straight home games at Citi Field, which was a new Mets home record breaking Ken Singleton's 1970 streak of hitting safely in 12 straight home games at Shea Stadium.

Erik Goeddel, Alex Torres, Carlos Torres & Sean Gilmartin closed out the 7-1 win. The Mets were on a roll winning their ninth straight game taking a 2.5 lead over Atlanta in the NL East.

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Wednesday April 22nd: 20,871 came to Citi Field as Dillon Gee took on Eric Stults.

In the top of the 2nd, AJ Pierzynsk doubled then scored on Andrelton Simmons base hit. In the bottom frame the Mets came right back as Eric Campbells doubled  & Wilmer Flores drove him in with an RBI single.

In the top of the 5th, the Braves Eric Young Jr. tripled ten an Alberto Callaspo sac fly scored him to put Atlanta on top 2-1.

In the top of the 7th Wilmer Flores made a spectacular circus catch with his back to the infield showing off his extraordinary defense.

In the bottom of the 7th inning, Wilmer Flores tied the game with a HR off Cody Martin. It was his second hit & RBI of the night. 

Wilmer Trivia: During the Mets win streak, from April 16th thru April 22nd Wilmer hit three HRs & drove in seven runs during an eight game hit streak. Wilmer would have a similar power streak in May.

In the bottom of the 8th with the score tied at 2-2, Curtis Granderson walked & Juan Lagares singled. Lucas Duda provided the game winning hit with an RBI single to left field off Jim Johnson scoring the Grandy Man. 

In the 9th, Jeurys Familia came on for his 7th save as the Mets streak reached ten games.

Quotes- Terry Collins: "I really believe winning is contagious. It's fun people like it & when you're in these kinds of streaks everybody wants to do their part. They don't get caught up in individual stuff, they get caught up in team stuff & it makes a difference."

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Thursday April 23rd: On a chilly Thursday get away day matinee at Citi Field, 23,980 fans along with centerfieldmaz, Darthmaz & the two UFs attended the final game of one of the most successful homestands the Mets ever had.

On the mound, the popular Bartolo Colon took on Julio Teheran.

In the home 1st, Julio Teheran walked the Grandyman, Lucas Duda & Michael Cuddyer. Daniel Murphy then hit a three run double clearing the bases as Grandrson, Duda & Cuddyer all scored giving the Mets a 3-0 lead. 

In the top of the 4th, Colon surrendered three hits with a sac fly as the Braves scored two runs tying up the game.

In the bottom of the 5th, Curtis Granderson singled then Braves pitcher Ian Thomas walked Lucas Duda & Michael Cuddyer loading the bases. 

Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez brought in Reliever Sugar Ray Marimon who walked Eric Campbell to bring in the go ahead run.

During the 7th inning stretch centerfieldmaz was on the giant video screen winning trivia anwsers to win concert tickets from Citi Field host Christina.

As play resumed, Juan Lagares & Lucas Duda singled, then Michael Cuddyer grounded out up the middle allowing Juan Lagares to score making it 5-3 Mets.

New Braves Pitcher Luis Avilan then balked, sending Cuddyer to third base. 

Multi- Four RBI Game: Daniel Murphy collected his second hit with a single into short left field. Michael Cuddyer hustled around third & slid into home under catcher AJ Pierzynski's tag with  Mets sixth & the final run, capping off the scoring in the 6-3 Mets win. On the night Daniel Murphy had his first multi-four RBI game of the season.

Murph Trivia: Although Daniel Murphy had a multi- four RBI night he was still struggling at the plate batting just .170. He would end up having 19 multi RBI games on the year, with two muti- four RBI games & finish the season hitting .281. 

In the post season he would have best streak ever, thru the first ten games he batted .400 with HRs in six straight games, collecting 18 hits seven HRs & 11 RBIs.

Bartolo Colon collected his fourth straight win to get to 4-0 with a 2.77 ERA. Jeurys Familia earned his eighth save as the Mets won their eleventh straight game.

Mets Trivia: The eleven game win streak tied a Mets record which had been done four other
times. The Mets won eleven straight games in 1969, 1972, 1986 & 1990. 

The ten straight wins on the homestand was the Mets best ever home stand. It was their best start since their 1986 Championship season. The Mets were now 13-3 with the best record in the majors.

Quotes- Terry Collins: "It sends a huge message to our fans, that what we said, we meant.''

Quotes-Daniel Murphy: "In each ballgame, no matter what happens, I feel like somebody is going to come through, it's a really cool feeling to have.''