Remembering Mets History (1999) Edgardo Alfonzo Sets or Matches Six Franchise Marks on Record Setting Night

Monday August 30th, 1999: Bobby Valentine's New York Mets (80-52) were 2.5 games behind the first place Atlanta Braves, at this point of the season. But the Mets had the second-best record in the NL & were leading the wild card race by three games.

On this road trip, the Mets had lost two of three games in Arizona, whom they would end up facing in that year's NLDS. Tonight, was the start of a three-game set in Houston, facing Larry Dierker's first place Astros (78-54). 

The Astros had a half game lead over the Cincinnati Reds who were right behind the Mets in the Wild Card race.  Tonight, a crowd of 28,032 came to the Astrodome as the Mets sent Masato Yoshii (8-8) to the mound to face Shane Reynolds (14-10).

At this point in the season, all these games were very important as the season was about to enter it's final month.

In the top of the 1st inning, Edgardo Alfonzo came to bat miring in a 3-30 slump.  But he snapped out of it as he hit a one out solo HR off Shane Reynolds, into the right center field seats of the big Astrodome. It was his 20th HR of the season reaching tat mark for the first time in his career.

In the top of the 2nd inning, a great Mets pick up at the trade deadline, Darryl Hamilton, led off with his 7th HR of the season. With two outs, Roger Cedeno got aboard with a base hit & stole second, his league leading 59th steal of the season.

Rickey Henderson singled to score Cedeno making it 3-0. Edgardo Alfonso collected his second hit with a base hit to right field. 

John Olerud doubled  to score Henderson. It was Olerud's 30th double of the season. Mike Piazza then hit a two run HR his 32nd HR of the year to give the Mets a 7-0 lead. In the inning, New York sent nine men to the plate, scored six runs while collecting six hits. 

In the top of the 4th inning, with one out Rickey
Henderson singled off relief pitcher Brian Williams. Edgardo Alfonzo then connected for his second HR of the night, also his third hit while driving in two more runs to give the Mets a 9-0 lead. It was Fonzie's 21st HR of the year & his new career high of 90 RBIs.

In the top of the 5th inning, Robin Ventura & Darryl Hamilton started the inning with base hits. After Roger Cedeno struck out, Rey Ordonez singled scoring Robin Ventura to make it 10-0 Mets. 

In the top of the 6th, Edgardo Alfonzo led off the inning with his third HR of the game, coming off the third Houston pitcher Sean Bergman. The Mets had an 11-0 commanding lead.

Fonzie's Record Setters: Alfonzo became the sixth player in Mets franchise history to hit three HRs in a game. The last to do it had been Gary Carter 15 years prior in 1985. Edgardo also set a franchise single season record for most HRs by a Mets second baseman (23). He also became the first visiting player to hit three HRs at the Astrodome. It was his 21st HR & 91st RBI of the season.

In the top of the 8th, Alfonzo led off the inning with a base hit into left field, his fifth hit of the night tying a Mets single game record. John Olerud then walked, next Shawon Dunston & Darryl Hamilton both added RBI hits making it 14-1. In the background of Alfonzo's big night, Darryl Hamilton had a multi-four hit game.

In the 9th inning, Todd Pratt & Benny Agbayani both singled. Edgardo Alfonzo completed his big night with an RBI double to left field, bringing in Todd Pratt with the Mets 15th run of the game. It was his sixth hit of the night & his fifth RBI.

First Met With Six Hits & Six Runs Scored: Alfonzo became the first player in franchise history to collect six hits & score six runs in a game. He also set a team record for total bases (16) in a game & became just the 18th player in MLB history to collect 16 total bases in a game.  On the night he tied or set six different franchise records, he also raised his season batting average to .319. 

Quotes- Manager Bobby Valentine: "He has very high expectations for his play & he keeps striving to be better. That's why he isn't settling for being a .300 hitter & hitting it to right field & taking a pitch on 3-1. Edgardo knows he's good but he doesn't know how good he is. His teammates have a better appreciation of how good he is."

Another Mets pick up at the trade deadline, Shawon Dunston added an RBI hit to score Agbayani as the Mets topped off their 17-1 win. 

When asked what his happiest highlight was he responded  saying winning the game.

Quotes- Edgardo Alfonzo: "The last out because we won the game. I don't think it's going to be good if you have the numbers & you lose the game".

Mets Trivia: The 17 runs were a 1999 season high & the most runs the club had scored since the 1990 season.  On June 12th 1990, New York beat the Cubs 19-8 at Wrigley Field. 

In the 1999 Mets Wild Card season, Alfonzo would bat .304 leading the team in hits (191) doubles (41) & runs scored (123). He hit 27 HRs with 108 RBIs & an .886 OPS.