Remembering Mets History: (2005) Dae-Sung Koo Has His Day In The Sun

Saturday May 21, 2005: On a Saturday afternoon's Fox Game of the week, Willie Randolph's Mets hosted this edition of the subway series, in front of 55,800 fans at Shea Stadium. Mets pitcher, Kris Benson threw six shutout innings, scattering just three hits in one of his finest outings. 

Benson was relieved by Korean born, Dae-Sung Koo who would actually get a chance to hit in the seventh inning.

In a previous meeting, Koo was afraid to even step in the batters box against pitcher Randy Johnson. 

In the Mets dugout, Mike Piazza thought the scenario was amusing. He told David Wright "I will donate a million dollars to charity, if he gets a hit".

Koo stands in and belts a 91 mph Johnson fastball off the center field wall for a double. As Koo was on second base, Jose Reyes bunted, Koo took off for third, on the play he rounded third in the madness. He dove into home plate, avoiding the tag & scored safely. He had his moment in the sun, looking up under the peak of the his helmet to the crowd roar.

Piazza can only laugh in amazement at Koo, realizing he has some big checks to write out to charity over the next few years.

The Mets belted out seven runs & fifteen hits on their way to a 7-1 win. It was also a big day for Jose, as he gets four hits, including his fourth triple of the year and drives in four runs.

Randy Johnson hit the showers and took the 7-1 loss. Davis Wright gets two hits & drives in two runs, Miguel Cairo belts a HR against his former team & Mike Piazza has two hits also.

Kris Benson (six innings), Koo  (1.1 innings) Roberto Hernandez (0.2 innings) & Braden Looper (one inning) combined for a five hitter, as Looper allows a run in the 9th. The Mets kept peace getting two games behind the first place Florida Marlins.