Remembering Mets History (1999): NLDS Game #3- Mets Romp Arizona With Nine Runs & Eleven Hits to take a 2-1 Series Lead

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Friday, October 8, 1999- NLDS Game #3- Shea Stadium, New York

With the NLDS tied at one game each, the post season returned for a Mets home game at Shea Stadium for the first time in eleven long years. 

 It had been a long wait for the Meta faithful. 56,180 crazed Mets fans came to Shea on this evening to cheer on their team on.

 In a good pitching matchup, the Mets manager Bobby Valentine sent Rick Reed (11-5 / 4.58 ERA 104 Ks) to the mound & Arizona Manager, Buck Showalter sent Omar Dahl (16-9 / 3.65 ERA / 148 Ks) to face New York. 

The Mets had to go without their future Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza as he was suffering with a thumb injury. Todd Pratt took the spot behind the plate.


    In the 1st inning, after getting the first two outs, Rick Reed walked Luis Gonzalez. He then threw a wild pitch advancing him to second base. But Reed got slugger Matt Williams to ground out to Rey Ordonez to end the inning.

     In the home 2nd, Benny Agbayani singled to right, then Robin Ventura drew a walk. Shawon Dunston then grounded into a double play. Todd Pratt drew a two out walk. The light hitting Rey Ordonez came through to put the Mets on the board with an RBI single to right field.



    In the Mets 3rd inning, Rickey Henderson led off with a strike out. Then Edgardo Alfonzo doubled to left field. John Olerud singled to left bringing in Alfonzo with the Mets second run making it 2-0. 

         Mets outfielder Benny Agbayani also singled, getting on with his second hit of the day, as John Olerud advanced to third base. Robin Ventura grounded a ball to first base, allowing Alfonzo to score, making it 3-0 Mets. Arizona got the force at second & then Shawon Dunston grounded out, ending the Mets rally.

    In the top of the 5th for Arizona, pinch hitter, Turner Ward hit a two run HR off Rick Reed
    cutting the Mets lead to a run, making it 3-2.

    In the home 6th inning, the Mets blew it open off reliever Darren Holmes. Todd Pratt drew a leadoff walk; he was bunted over to second base by Rey Ordonez. Bobby Bonilla then drew a walk & Rickey Henderson came through with a single to right field bringing home Todd Pratt, making it a 4-2 Mets lead. 

    Next, Edgardo Alfonzo was walked intentionally, manager Buck Schowalter went to Dan Plesac in the bullpen to pitch for the D-backs. John Olerud then greeted him with a base hit to right field, both Bonilla & Henderson scored making it a 6-2 Mets lead. 

    The Mets hitting continued as Roger Cedeno then followed with another RBI base hit to left. Cedeno who was second in the NL with 66 steals that year, then stole second base. After Robin Ventura grounded out, Darryl Hamilton came through with another base hit, scoring both Olerud & Cedeno, making it a 9-2 Mets lead. 

    Eleven Mets came to bat in the inning scoring six runs, with four hits & three walks.  

    Rick Reed would be done after five innings, as Bobby Valentine went to his strong bullpen. On the day Reed allowed two runs on four hits, with two strikeouts & two walks. 

     Turk Wendell gave up a leadoff walk in the 7th, then retired Arizona in order. John Franco had an easy 1-2-3 inning in the 8th. Bobby V went to veteran Orel Hershiser to close it out in the 9th inning.
    The Mets won it 9-2 & took two games to one lead in the NLDS, needing just one more win to advance to the NLCS.

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