Remembering Mets History:(2000) Mets Score Ten Runs in 8th Inning To Beat The Atlanta Braves

Friday June 30th 2000:  A huge crowd of 52,831 came out to Shea Stadium to see Bobby Valentines second place Mets (45-32) take on the Bobby Cox's first place Atlanta Braves (48-31).

At this point in time, the Mets were just three games behind the Braves after having lost to them the night before. At this point in time, the Mets / Braves rivalry was at its peak.

The Mets Mike Hampton took the mound against Kevin Millwood.

Starting Lineups

	Atlanta Braves				New York Mets
1	Quilvio Veras	2B		1	Melvin Mora	SS
2	Andruw Jones	CF		2	Derek Bell	RF
3	Chipper Jones	3B		3	Edgardo Alfonzo	2B
4	Andres Galarraga	1B		4	Mike Piazza	C
5	Brian Jordan	RF		5	Robin Ventura	3B
6	Bobby Bonilla	LF		6	Todd Zeile	1B
7	Javy Lopez	C		7	Jay Payton	CF
8	Walt Weiss	SS		8	Benny Agbayani	LF
9	John Burkett	P		9	Rick Reed	P

Hampton walked Javy Lopez with the bases loaded in the 1st inning for a 1-0 Braves lead. In the 3rd, Lopez struck again with a bases loaded single that brought two runs in ,while a Mike Piazza error allowed a third run to cross the plate. It was 4-0 Braves.

Hampton gave up five runs through seven innings. In the 8th short time Mets reliever Eric Cammack, served up a three HR to Brian Jordan, making it 8-1.

In the home 8th, with Don Wengert on the mound, Derek Bell & Mike Piazza both singled. With one out Robin Ventura grounded out to second base for the second out but Derek Bell scored. 

Then an amazing two out rally led to the Mets scoring nine more runs, which resulted in a club record at that time, ten run inning.

Todd Zeile singled, to drive in Piazza with the third run. Next Jay Payton singled, then Benny Agbayani walked. Kelly Ligtenberg was the new Braves pitcher, he walked Mark Johnson & Melvin Mora both with the bases loaded, putting the score to 8-5.

Bobby Cox then yanked Ligtenberg & brought in Terry Mulholland. He walked Derek Bell and it was an 8-6 game. Now the Mets fans were going wild at Shea.

Next Edgardo Alfonzo singled, bringing in two more runs to tie the game. The crowd were on there feet as Mike Piazza came up to bat. Piazza blasted a three run HR over the wall, bringing Shea Stadium to bedlam as he capped off the record setting inning with what turned out to be the winning runs.

Armando Benitez closed out the 9th & got credited with the win (2-3) moving the Mets within two games of  first place. 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 a game of Atlanta.