Remembering Mets History: (1999) Matt Franco's Subway Series Walk Off Single

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Saturday July 10th 1999: The 1999 Shea Stadium version of the subway series began with both New York teams having almost identical records. 

The 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 Rick Reed going up against Andy Pettitte. Both starters would have a rough time of it & were both gone by the 6th inning. 

Starting Lineups



The A.L. club got a 1st inning two run HR from Paul O'Neill making it 2-0. The Mets answered back quickly as Rickey Henderson led off with a single, stole second & came in on Mike Piazza's double.

In the 2nd, Roger Cedeno walked  then stole second & third base. He scored on Rey Ordonez's sac fly, tying it up at two. 

In the home 4th, Benny Agbayani singled & was brought in on a Robin Ventura double. Cedeno bunted Ventura over & Rey Ordonez drove him in on another sac fly. The A.L. New York club tied it with a two run HR by Jorge Posada. They got two more runs off Mets relief pitchers Greg McMichael & Rigo Beltran making it 6-4. 

In the Mets 7th inning, Rickey Henderson doubled & with two out John Olerud walked. Mike Piazza stepped in & hit a three run HR off Ramiro Mendoza putting the Mets ahead 7-6. 

But Bobby Valentine's bullpen failed him as Dennis Cook gave up a two run HR to Posada, putting the Mets behind 8-7. 

 In the bottom of the 9th Mariano Rivera came on to close it out, but that wouldn't happen today.


 Rickey Henderson got on base for the fifth time, as he drew his second walk. He already had three hits on the day.

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

Mike Piazza was the batter but there was no way they were going to pitch to him as he was walked intentionally. 
 Matt Franco was brought in to pinch hit for Melvin Mora. Franco singled to right field scoring both Henderson & Alfonzo with the walk off game winning run. The Mets fans were ecstatic with the exciting subway series win. The Mets took both games of the two subway series games played at Shea Stadium this year.

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