Remembering Mets History (1999) Matt Franco's Subway Series Walk Off Base Hit

Saturday July 10th, 1999: The 1999 subway series games at Shea Stadium, began with both New York teams having almost identical records. 

The Mets had taken the Friday night game, as Al Leiter beat Roger Clemens 5-2. Mike Piazza hit a three run HR, as he was just starting out what would become dominance whenever he faced Clemens. Jon Olerud also hit a solo HR.

In this Saturday matinee, Joe Torre's AL New York club (51-34) came to Shea facing the second place Mets (50-38). As usual a sellout crowd of 53,972 came to Shea, to watch the subway series. 

The Mets Rick Reed (3-3) went up against Andy Pettitte (3-4). Both starters would have a rough time of it & were both gone by the 6th inning. 

In the top of the 1st, Bernie Williams reached on a one out base hit & Paul O'Neill homered putting the Mets down 2-0. 

In the bottom of the 2nd, they quickly answered back as Rickey Henderson led off with a single to left field then stole second base for his 25th stolen base of the year. Mike Piazza then hit his 16th double of the year scoring Henderson with the Mets first run.

In the bottom of the 2nd, Roger Cedeno walked then stole second & third base. 

Roger Cedeno Trivia: Cedeno reached 45 stolen bases at this point in the season. In 1999 he would set a Mets single season record at that time, stealing 66 bases on the season passing Mookie Wilson's old mark of 58. In 2007 Jose Reyes would set a new franchise mark with 78.

Rey Ordonez's sac fly tied up the game as Cedeno scored.

In the home 4th, Benny Agbayani singled & was brought in on a Robin Ventura double. Ventura was leading the team with 65 RBIs. Roger Cedeno bunted Ventura over to third. Rey Ordonez drove him in with his second sac fly of the game giving the Mets a 4-2 lead. 

In the 5th, the A.L. New York club tied it on back-to-back HRs from Ricky Ledee & Jorge Posada. In the top of the 6th, Paul O'Neil, homered off Mets reliever Greg McMichael. In the top of the 7th Chuck Knoblauch homered off Rigo Beltran putting the Mets behind 6-4. 

In the Mets home 7th inning, with reliever Ramiro Mendoza on the mound, Rickey Henderson doubled, then with two outs John Olerud drew a walk. 

Mike Piazza stepped in & hit a three run HR, his 17th HR of the season putting the Mets ahead 7-6. Piazza now reached 56 RBIs second on the club to Robin Ventura.

But Bobby Valentine's bullpen failed once again in this game. 

In the top of the 8th, Dennis Cook started the inning waling Scott Brosius, then gave up a two run HR to Jorge Posada, putting the Mets behind 8-7. It was the sixth HR the Mets pitching served up on the day.

In the bottom of the 9th, Mariano Rivera came on for the A.L. New York team, to close out the game.

Rickey Henderson got on base for the fifth time, as he drew his second walk of the day. Henderson had three hits & scored three runs scored in the game.

Edgardo Alfonzo then doubled but Henderson was held up at third base unable to score. John Olerud grounded out to first base unassisted & the Mets were down to their last out. 

Mike Piazza was the batter but there was no way manager Joe Torre was going to allow Rivera to pitch to him as he walked Piazza intentionally. 

Bobby Valentine put Matt Franco up to pinch hit for Melvin Mora. 

Franco took a close two strike pitch that was close but called a ball. Manager Joe Torre barked at the umpire from the dugout.  Franco then delivered with a single into right field scoring both Henderson & Alfonzo with the walk off game winning runs.

Trivia: That season Matt Franco set an MLB record with 20 pinch hits as well. In 2016, that record was broken by the Pirates Matt Joyce.

The Mets fans were ecstatic with the exciting win in the wild 9-8 game. The two teams combined for twenty hits, six HRs & five doubles.