Remembering Mets History (1999) Mets Beat Reds In One Game Tie Breaker & Advance to the NLDS
But a seven-game losing streak, that included dropping five of six to the first place Braves had them in jeopardy of missing the playoffs.
The Mets lost home field advantage in a league coin toss & traveled to Cincinnati to play Jack McKeon's Reds (96-67) in the one game tie breaker to decide the NL Wild Card winner.
But New York won five of their last six games finishing the year at 96-66, the team's best finish since they had won 100 games in 1988.
Although they finished second to the Atlanta Braves, they finished tied with the Cincinnati Reds for the lone NL Wild Card spot.
On the mound for the Mets was their ace Al Leiter going for his 13th win of the season facing the Reds Steve Parris (11-3).
For Al Leiter he stepped into the spotlight & threw a complete game two hit shutout winning his 13th game of the year. Along the way, Leiter struck out eight batters, while walking four.
In the bottom of the 1st, Al Leiter walked the leadoff man Pokey Reese, then retired the next three batters. In the home 2nd, Jeffrey Hammonds collected the Reds first hit with a base hit to left field.
In the top of the 5th inning, the Mets Rickey Henderson led off with a HR off Neagle, it was Henderson's 12th HR & 42nd RBI of the year giving the Mets a 4-0 lead.
From the last out of the 3rd inning thru the 7th inning, Al Leiter retired 13 batters in a row going into the 8th with a comfortable 5-0 lead having allowed just one hit.
In the bottom of the 8th, Leiter walked Ed Taubensee to start the inning, the third Reds Walk on the evening. Aaron Boone then grounded into a doble play, led by Rey Ordonez at short stop. Pinch hitter Mark Lewis made the final out of the inning.
For Al Leiter he stepped into the spotlight & threw a complete game two hit shutout winning his 13th game of the year. Along the way, Leiter struck out eight batters, while walking four.It wasn’t until the 9th inning that the Reds were able to get more than one base runner on base.
In the top of the 1st, the Mets struck right away as leadoff batter, Rickey Henderson started the game with a base hit. Edgardo Alfonzo followed hitting his 27th HR of the year, a two-run blast off Reds starter, Steve Parris giving the Mets a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 1st, Al Leiter walked the leadoff man Pokey Reese, then retired the next three batters. In the home 2nd, Jeffrey Hammonds collected the Reds first hit with a base hit to left field.In the top of the 3rd, with two outs, Edgardo Alfonzo drew a walk. John Olerud then doubled & Mike Piazza was walked intentionally.
Steve Parris was taken out as Jack McKeon brought in Denny Neagle. Neagle issued a bases loaded walk to Robin Ventura making it a 3-0 Mets lead. It was Ventura's 120th RBI of the season, second on the club to Mike Piazza.
In the top of the 6th, Rey Ordonez drew a walk.
Next up, Edgardo Alfonzo hit his 41st team leading double of the season, scoring Ordonez with his career best 108th RBI, giving the Mets a 5-0 win.
In the bottom of the 8th, Leiter walked Ed Taubensee to start the inning, the third Reds Walk on the evening. Aaron Boone then grounded into a doble play, led by Rey Ordonez at short stop. Pinch hitter Mark Lewis made the final out of the inning.
In the bottom of the 9th, Pokey Reese led off with the Reds second hit of the game a double to left field. Barry Larkin then grounded out to Rey Ordonez at short stop for the second out.
Rey Ordonez Trivia: Also, that evening, Ordonez extended his major league record of 100 errorless games at short stop.
Al Leiter the struck-out Sean Casey for his seventh K of the night. He walked Greg Vaughn then got Dmitri Young to line out to second baseman Edgardo Alfonso to end the game.
The victory secured the Mets the 1999 Wild Card spot along with their first trip to the post season in 11 seasons (1988).
It was on to Arizona for Game #1 of the 1999 NLDS the very next night.
100 RBI Trivia: For the first time in Mets team history, the 1999 Mets had three players who drove in 100 or more runs; Mike Piazza (124) Robin Ventura (120) & Eduardo Alfonzo (108).
100 RBI Trivia: For the first time in Mets team history, the 1999 Mets had three players who drove in 100 or more runs; Mike Piazza (124) Robin Ventura (120) & Eduardo Alfonzo (108).
