Remembering Mets History: (2003) Jae Seo, David Weathers & Armando Benitez Combine For a One Hitter

Tuesday June 17th, 2003: On this Mets Road trip, it had been just two days since the Mets Steve Trachsel had thrown a one hit 8-0 shut out over the reigning World Champion Anaheim Angels in California.  Tonight, the Mets visited beautiful South Florida, to play the Marlins, who were to be that seasons eventual World Champions.

At the time Jack McKeon's Marlins were still in fourth place (34-38) & Art Howe's Mets were right behind them in fifth place (32-37). Tonight's starting pitchers were Carl Pavano (5-7) for Florida & Jae Seo (4-2) for the Mets.


Jae Seo would retire the first thirteen Marlins he faced into the bottom of the 5th inning. Along the way he had recorded three strike outs, with his third being Mike Lowell to lead off the 5th inning. 

As he was flirting with a no hitter, with one out, Juan Encarnacion hit a line drive to center field that fell in for a base hit. Seo just shrugged it off & went about his business. 

Encarnacion attempted to steal second but was thrown out by Jason Phillips. He got Derel Lee to end the inning.

Jae Seo did not allow any more Marlin hits, as he retired six in a row getting to two outs in the 7th inning. 

For the Marlins Carl Pavano held the Mets down until the top of the 7th, when Jeromy Burnitz hit his 11th HR of the season, for a 1-0 Mets lead.

In the bottom of the 7th, Jae Seo got the first two outs on ground balls. Mets manager Art Howe removed him after 6.2 shut out inning, with one hit, no walks & four strike outs.

Howe brought in David Weathers from the Mets bullpen. Weathers got Ivan Rodriguez to end the inning grounding out to third base. In the home 8th, Weathers retired the side in order, getting Mike Lowell to pop up, then got two ground outs to shirt from Encarnacion & Derek Lee.

In the top of the 9th, the Mets offense gave their pitchers some breathing room. Ty Wigginton blasted his 5th HR of the season, making it 2-0 Mets. After Roberto Alomar reached on an error, Marlin manager Jack McKeon removed Carl Pavano for Armando Almanza.

The crazy inning then featured a wild pitch to Cliff Floyd, who then would reach on an error on a fly ball to center field. Jeromy Burnitz was walked intentionally loading the bases. Jason Phillips then singled to center bringing in Alomar with the Mets third run. Jose Reyes followed with an RBI sac fly & Roger Cedeno singled up the middle brining in Burnitz with the Mets fifth run.

In the 9th inning, Armando Benitez was brought in to close it out. He got Alex Gonzalez to ground out to third base. Next Todd Hollandsworth flew out to right for out number two. Then pinch hitter Andy Fox struck out to end the game. Three Mets pitchers had combined for the 25th career one hitter in Mets history. The club's second in the last three games.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Remembering Mets History: (1977) The Felix Millan / Ed Ott Brawl In Pittsburgh

Remembering Bobby Ojeda's Tragic Boating Accident (1993)

Fictional Mets Infielder Chico Escuela ( of SNL) Visits Mets Spring Training (1979)

Remembering Vixen Founder / Guitarist; Jan Kuehnemund (1961-2013)

The History of Yogi Berra & Yoo-Hoo