Remembering Mets History (2000) Mets Score Ten Runs in 8th Inning To Beat The Atlanta Braves
At this point in the exciting season, the Mets/ Braves rivalry was at its late 1990's peak. The Mets had just finished up a seven-game win streak, taking a loss to the Braves the previous night.
On the season the Mets & Braves played 13 games against each other, with the Braves winning seven & the Mets taking six. In 1999 the Braves beat the Mets in the NLCS. This year the two would not meet in the post season as the Braves were eliminated by the St. Louis Cardinals. The Mets beat the Cardinals in the NLCS.
On this evening, the Mets Mike Hampton (7-5) took the mound against Atlanta's Kevin Millwood (5-6).
In the top of the 1st inning, Mike Hampton was shaky, he gave up two singles, had a passed ball go by Mike Piazza, then hit Andres Galarraga with a pitch to load the bases.
On this evening, the Mets Mike Hampton (7-5) took the mound against Atlanta's Kevin Millwood (5-6).
In the top of the 1st inning, Mike Hampton was shaky, he gave up two singles, had a passed ball go by Mike Piazza, then hit Andres Galarraga with a pitch to load the bases. Hampton then brought in a run when he walked Javy Lopez. Hampton stopped any further damage getting Bobby Bonilla to ground into a double play.
Overall, Mike Hampton lasted seven innings, giving up five runs on nine hits & six walks. Strangely enough, Hampton walked six or more batters five times that season.
Derek Bell led off with a base hit. Then with one out Mike Piazza collected an infield single to short & Rafael Furcal's bad throw allowed both runners to advance a base. Robin Ventura grounded out to second for the second out, but Derek Bell scored & Piazza went to third.
Braves manager Bobby Cox brought in Kelly Ligtenberg to pitch. Ligtenberg was wild, he walked pinch hitter Mark Johnson & Melvin Mora putting the score to 8-5.
Mets Franchise Records: In the inning the Mets scored ten runs, matching a franchise record for most runs in an inning set in 1979. They sent 13 men to the plate, collecting six hits & four walks.
In the top of the 9th, Armando Benitez closed it out & got credited with the win.
In the top of the 3rd, the Braves got two lead-off singles. Andres Galarraga reached base for the second time, drawing a walk. Javy Lopez singled to left field, bringing in two more runs. On the throw a Mike Piazza error allowed Galarraga to score as well making it was 4-0 Braves.
Kevin Millwood kept the Mets off the board for six innings. In the bottom of the 7th, he got Robin Ventura to pop out for the first out. Todd Zeile & Jay Payton both singled. After Benny Agbayani went down on strikes, pinch hitter Matt Franco delivered a base hit scoring Zeile putting the Mets on the board with a run, down 5-1
In the top of the 8th, Mets pitcher Eric Cammack, walked two batters & served up a three HR to Brian Jordan, making it 8-1 Braves.
Trivia: Eric Cammack had just eight MLB appearances, all with the 2000 Mets. He gave up seven runs in ten innings of work & hit a triple in his only career at bat.
Tying Franchise Record for Runs in an Inning: In the bottom of the 8th, Don Wengert, a journeyman pitcher who would just pitch ten games for the 2000 Braves, was on the mound.
Tying Franchise Record for Runs in an Inning: In the bottom of the 8th, Don Wengert, a journeyman pitcher who would just pitch ten games for the 2000 Braves, was on the mound.
Todd Zeile then delivered a single to left center field scoring Piazza. Next Jay Payton singled to
right & Don Wengert walked Benny Agbayani to load the bases.
Joe McEwing came into run for Mark Johnson & Bobby Cox quickly changed pitchers bringing in Terry Mulholland. Mulholland then issued the Braves fourth straight walk, walking Derek Bell & bringing in Benny Agbayani with the Mets fifth run of the inning, making it an 8-6 game.
The Mets fans were going wild at Shea enjoying the amazing comeback. Edgardo Alfonzo then delivered a two-run base hit to left field bringing in McEwing & Mora to tie up the game at eight.
The Shea crowd were on their feet as Mike Piazza came up to bat. Mike Piazza delivered again, blasting a three run HR over the left field wall, bringing Shea Stadium to bedlam.
For Piazza it was his 22nd HR of the season & the three RBIs got him to a team leading 68 on the year.
The record would be broken on July 16th, 2006, when they put up eleven runs in the 6th inning at Wrigley Field. On April 29th, 2016, they broke that record putting up 12 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning in a 13-1 win over the Giants.
Trivia: A week earlier the Mets put up nine runs in the 3rd inning in a 12-2 win at Shea over the Pirates.
The Mets moved within two games of first place Atlanta. The next night: Al Leiter improved to 10-1, as he combined with Turk Wendell on a six hit 9-1 Mets victory, bringing New York within one game of first place Atlanta.