Remembering Mets History (1999) NLDS Game #4: Todd Pratts Dramatic Walk Off HR Clinches Series
This afternoon's matinee playoff game at Shea Stadium would either be the clinching game for the Mets or a loss would send them back to Arizona for a decisive Game #5 facing the Big Unit- Randy Johnson.
56,177 Mets fans, packed into Shea Stadium with excitement in the air on this chilly Saturday afternoon, for the 3:30 PM start.
Mets manager, Bobby Valentine juggled 15 different players in his line up throughout the day, only managing to get eight hits out of their bats.
His teams' biggest bat, Mike Piazza was sidelined again due to an injured thumb. The backup catcher Todd Pratt was inserted in the lineup making his second straight start. Pratt had gone 0-5 with two walks in the series.
The Mets Al Leiter (13-12 / 4.13 ERA / 162 Ks) got the start against the Diamondbacks Brian Anderson (8-2 / 4.57 ERA). Leiter's last start came in the regular season tie breaker in Cincinnati where he tossed a two-hit shutout victory.
Leiter then retired the next 11 batters into the 5th inning.
In the bottom of the 1st inning, John Olerud collected his series leading sixth hit of the NLDS with a base hit.
Brian Anderson held the Mets down until the 4th inning retiring the next seven batters.
Fonzie Trivia: It was Fonzie's third HR & sixth RBI in the series. Alfonzo & John Olerud would lead the NLDS with six RBIs each.
In the top of the 5th inning, with one out, Greg Colbrunn hit a solo HR to tie up the game at one. The next batter, Steve Finley singled to left field, but Leiter retired the next two batters ending the inning.
In the bottom of the 6th, Rickey Henderson singled to right field for his sixth hit of the series.
After Edgardo Alfonzo popped up, John Olerud singled to left field, for his third multi-hit game of the series putting runners on the corners. NLDS Trivia: In the series, Jon Olerud led all hitters with seven hits & Ricky Henderson was second with six hits. The d-backs Matt Williams also collected six hits.
Next, Benny Agbayani doubled to right field bringing in Henderson to put the Mets ahead 2-1.
The game remained that way until the 8th inning.
In the top of the 8th, Al Leiter got the first two Arizona outs, then walked Turner Ward & gave up a single to Tony Womack. It was just Arizona's third hit of the game.
Mets manager Bobby Valentine came out & relieved Al Leiter to a big Shea Stadium ovation. On the day, Leiter went 7.2 innings allowing three runs on three hits walking three & striking out four.
Benitez intentionally walking Luis Gonzalez, then Matt Williams delivered a base hit to left field.
Rickey Henderson fielded the ball, threw home to catcher Todd Pratt who then applied the tag on Jay Bell at the plate. Bell was called out & the inning was over. It was a huge play & the turning point of the game.
John Olerud then reached on an error in right field by Tony Womack missing a long fly ball. Roger Cedeno then tied the game back up with a sac fly to center field that scored Alfonzo making it 3-3.
After Robin Ventura was intentionally walked, Todd Pratt blasted a shot down the left field line that was foul by inches. Mets third base coach Cookie Rojas argued the call & was ejected for shoving third base umpire Charlie Williams.
In the bottom of the 9th, Matt Mantei walked Matt Franco & then John Olerud intentionally but retired Roger Cedeno to end the inning.
In the top of the 10th inning, John Franco came on to toss a scoreless frame. First, he fanned Kelly Stinnett then got Lenny Harris to ground a ball back to him. Tony Womack grounded to Robn Ventura at third base for the third out.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, Robin Ventura started the inning flying out to right field.
Next backup catcher Todd Pratt who was playing the entire game, in place of an injured Mike Piazza, came to bat. Pratt had been up twice in the game with runners in scoring position & went hitless both times. In the series he was 0-7.
Pratt blasted a shot to the wall in deep centerfield. Arizona outfielder Steve Finley leaped to the top of the fence at the classic 410 marker on the Shea wall.
He landed on the ground & for a moment no one knew if the catch was made or not.
Pratt stopped halfway around first base to look fora call & to see if Finley had made the catch. As Finley sat on the ground empty gloved, it was soon clear he had not caught the ball & it was ruled a HR.
Pratt stopped halfway around first base to look fora call & to see if Finley had made the catch. As Finley sat on the ground empty gloved, it was soon clear he had not caught the ball & it was ruled a HR.
The Shea Stadium crowd along with the Mets players went crazy. Pratt leaped in the air, raising his fist as he rounded the bases, then was mobbed at home plate by his teammates.
Pratt became an instant Mets hero and will always be remembered for hitting one of the most memorable HRs in Mets history. Just when he thought his job as Mike Piazza’s back up was to be an unmemorable experience.
Quotes- Todd Pratt: "I am going to kiss my wife, give my son a high five & then probably I will be back on my computer playing computer games. Het I could have easily been the goat today".
The Mets advanced to the 1999 NLCS to face the Atlanta Braves. They avoided a date in the Arizona desert facing Randy Johnson for a Game #5 elimination game. Arizona manager Buck Schowalter was soon fired after the series.
