Remembering Mets History (2007): Carlos Delgado Has Three May Walk Off Wins In Two Weeks

Tuesday May 29th 2007: Willie Randolph's New York Mets were now five games up in first place at 33-17, looking to be the best team in the NL that year.

A late season collapse changed all that, but for now things were good.

Tonight they hosted Bruce Bochy's (24-26) San Francisco Giants in front of a big crowd of 47,940 at Shea Stadium. On the mound was Oliver Perez & Tim Lincecum.


Starting Lineups



The 1st inning was a usual Oliver Perez horror, two HRs served up to Randy Winn & Bengie Molina.

In the 4th the hero of the day, Carlos Delgado delivered a two run HR, bringing home Carlos Beltran who had walked. Beltran added an RBI double in the 6th scoring Jose Reyes putting New York ahead 3-2.

But after Perez had seemed to settle down into the 7th, he gave up a HR to Daniel Ortmeier, tying the game. 

The game rolled along to the 12th inning when the Mets Joe Smith walked Omar Vizquel, threw a wild pitch, hit a batter and let a run score on Randy Winn's grounder. In the bottom of the 12th, a familiar face took the mound for San Francisco, Armando Benitez. Benitez didn't have too many friends in Shea Stadium when he pitched there or since his departure. 

Benitez walked Jose Reyes, a balk & a sacrifice got him to third. Benitez then managed to balk again scoring Reyes to tie the game. Then Carlos Delgado who was carrying the team in recent days, hit his second HR of the night, giving the Mets an exciting walk off HR.

Delgado had just hit two HRs two days prior in a 7-2 Mets over the Marlins. In his last three games he had 4 HRs & 8 RBIs. He would hit three more HRs in the next week as well. Delgado was responsible for the last three Mets walk off wins all coming in the last two weeks of May.


Thursday May 17th 2007: This afternoon's matinee at Shea took in 42,667 fans at the gate, as the first place Mets (26-14) took on Lou Pinella's Chicago Cubs. The Cubs would go on to win the NL Central in 2007 but lose to the Arizona Diamond backs in that years NLDS.


Starting Lineups



Aramis Ramirez singled in arun in the 4th & Ruben Gotay doubled in one for the Mets in the 5th. The Cubs struck Vargas in the 6th with HRs from Angel Pagan & Ramirez, making it 5-1.

The game went that way to the 9th. Ryan Dempster came on to try to save it but David Newhan & Carlos Gomez singled. Carlos Beltran reached on defensive interference. Dempster then walked Endy Chaves & Ruben Gotay delivered another RBI single.

Scott Eyre came in to pitch & was greeted by David Wright's base hit scoring the tying run. Next up Carlos Delgado delivered another game winning hit, a walk off single giving the Mets the four run comeback win. 
__________________________


Monday May 14th 2007: Willie Randolph's Mets (24-13) were in first place by just 1/2 game over the Atlanta Braves this early in the season.

Tonight they hosted Lou Pinella's Chicago Cubs (17-19) who they just had a walk off win against three days ago. Tom Glavine went up against Long Island Born Jason Marquis in a fine pitching match up in front of 34, 033 fans at Shea Stadium.


Starting Lineups





In the 1st Glavine gave up a double to Alfonso Soriano & an RBI single to Aramis Ramirez. A horrible 2nd inning led to three more Cubs runs with an RBI double from Cezar Izturis & a two run single from the pitcher Marquis. It was quickly 4-0 Cubs.

In the 4th, Carlos Delgado walked, then David Wright hit a two run HR to put the Mets on the board. The Met knocked out Marquis in the 6th, lead off singles tp Delgado & Wright put them in business. 

Pitcher Rocky Cherry came in & gave up a double to Paul LoDuca & a sac fly to Damion Easley to tie the game at four. The bullpen of Joe Smith, Pedro Feliciano & Aaron Heilman got the Mets to the 9th.


After the first two batters were retired in the bottom of the 9th,  Michael Wuertz got into trouble. Jose Reyes singled & stole second. Endy Chavez walked & Carlos Beltran was walked intentionally. Wuertz then walked in Delgado with the game winning run scoring.

Delgado would have three walk off wins in the final two weeks of May. He missed some action that year but in 139 games hit 24 HRs with 87 RBIs batting .258. Overall he had four Mets walk off wins in his career.

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