Remembering Mets History (2004) Tom Glavine Tosses One Hitter
Today's starters were Tom Glavine for New York & a former Met, Shawn Estes.
Trivia: In 2003 Shawn Estes was the starting pitcher in the first game where Roger Clemmens had to come to bat against the Mets after the drama of him beaning Mike Piazza in 2000. It came in a regular season subway series game with much media attention. Estes threw behind Clemmens without hitting him. It cleared the air a bit but did not satisfy the angry fans who wanted revenge. Although Piazza & as well as Estes both hit home runs in that game which the Mets won big.
In the top of the 1st, Glavine retired the side in order, striking out Vinny Castilla to end the inning.
In the top of the 3rd, Glavine recorded two strike outs, fanning Kit Pellow & the pitcher Estes. In the bottom of the 3rd, Matsui led off with a double to center. He advanced on Danny Garcia's sacrifice & later scored on a Cliff Floyd's ground out, making it 3-0.
There were just four more outs to go to make Mets history.
Trivia: Kit Pellow would just play three years in the majors (2002-2004). He appeared in 99 games & bat a career .257 with 52 hits 4 HRs 9 doubles & 19 RBIs. He was another obscure player ruining a Mets no hit bid foiled.
Glavine collected his composer, took a deep breath & struck out Rene Reyes to end the inning. The crowd gave him a huge standing ovation as he exited the field.
Tom Glavine had pitched the 27th one hitter in Mets history. It was one of two one-hitters Tom Glavine would have in his Mets career.
In the top of the 1st inning, Kaz Matsui led off with a HR off Sean Estes to make it 1-0.
Kaz Matsui Trivia: For Kaz Matsui it was the fifth time that season, he had led off a game with a HR. He tied an MLB rookie record set by Chili Davis for most lead off HRs in a rookie season.
The HR also set a Mets record passing Tommie Agee who had hit four lead off HRs in the 1969 season.
Matsui had also hit a leadoff HR the previous day as well.
Two batters later Cliff Floyd added a solo HR giving the Mets a 2-0 lead.
Glavine retired the first 18 batters in a row, heading to thru the first five innings with a perfect game.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, Shane Spencer walked, stole second then third base. Pitcher Tom Glavine then singled off Estes as well, helping his own cause, bringing in the Mets fourth run. It was all they needed in the 4-0 win.
In the top of the 7th, Glavine walked Denny Hocking to start the inning. Although the perfect game was gone, he still had a no hitter going.
He struck out Royce Clayton, then retired Castilla & Charles Johnson to finish the 8th inning.
In the top of the 8th, the tension had the Shea crowd on the edge of their feet looking for history, as no Mets pitcher had yet to throw a no hitter in franchise history.
Glavine got Jeromy Burnitz to fly out to Cliff Floyd for the first out. He then struck out Matt Holliday collecting his seventh strike out of the game & second out of the inning.
But with two outs, first base man Kit Pellow doubled over right fielder Shane Spencer's head ruining Glavine's no-hit bid.
Quotes- Shane Spencer: "The ball was going over my head, I was wishing & wishing but there was no way. It's a shame. I think we were all hoping to be part of something special".
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| Kit Pellow |
Glavine collected his composer, took a deep breath & struck out Rene Reyes to end the inning. The crowd gave him a huge standing ovation as he exited the field.
In the top of the 9th, Glavine came out to finish it off. He struck out Todd Greene, got Denny Hocking to fly out & Royce Clayton to pop out to short stop Kaz Matsui to end the game.
Tom Glavine had pitched the 27th one hitter in Mets history. It was one of two one-hitters Tom Glavine would have in his Mets career. Quotes- Tom Glavine: 'I thought, well I never expected to throw a no hitter, but nobody's ever done it here. Why not me? I thought everything was going to line up here.
Glavine went to 6-2 on the season with a 2.13 ERA. He would finish up 11-14 with a 3.60 ERA for the fourth place Mets (71-91).