Remembering Mets History: (2000) Mike Piazza Sets Club Record Driving In Runs in 15 Straight Games

From June 14th, 2000, to July 2nd, 2000, Mike Piazza set a club record driving in at least one run in 15 straight games:

Wednesday June 14th, 2000: Bobby Valentines New York Mets salvaged a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago avoiding a sweep from Don Baylor's Cubs. Tonight Mike Piazza hit his 17th HR of the year, collecting two hits & three RBIs in the 10-8 Mets win. It was the start of a record 15 game stretch where Pizza would drive in at least one run, setting a Mets record with 15 straight games driving in at least one run.

The Mets would move up I94 north to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where they would take three of four games from the Milwaukee Brewers. 

June 16th -17th, 2000:  Piazza hit his 18th HR of the year, a two-run shot off Steve Woodward. He collected two hits in the 7-1 win, helping Al Leiter get to 8-1 on the season. 

The next night the Mets would take a 3-2 loss. Piazza would collect two mor hits & have an RBI single. He was batting .369.

Sunday June 18th, 2000: In the rubber game of the series on Sunday afternoon, Piazza doubled home Matt Franco & Edgardo Alfonzo in a five-run 4th inning rally. He now had 50 RBIs on the season & had driven in at least one run in four straight games. Kurt Abbot & Robin Ventura both homered, Abbot's was a 3-run shot. Jay Payton added an RBI sac fly in the 7-3 Mets win.

The Mets flew back to New York for an eleven-game home stand hosting the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins & Atlanta Braves. Mike Piazza would drive in at least one run in every game extending his streak.

Tuesday, June 20th - 21st, 2000: The Mets lost the first two games to the Phillies in the opening two game series. As for Piazza, he homered in each game his 20th & 21st of the season. Both were two run shots, coming off pitchers, Curt Schilling & Paul Byrd. Piazza would get a day off in the third game on Thursday night.

Friday June 23rd, 2000: The Mets swept the Pirates on the three game weekend series. In the Friday night game, Piazza three run HR off Bronson Arroyo. 

That night was highlighted with a nine run Mets third inning. Melvin Mora hit a bases clearing double for three RBI's. Benny Agbayani drove in a pair along with RBIs from Jay Payton & Edgardo Alfonzo in the Mets 12-2 win behind Bobby Jones. 

Saturday June 24th, 2000: In a wild 9-8 Mets win, Piazza had a two run double giving him 59 RBIs on the season. He was batting .358 & had now driven in runs in eight straight games.

Robin Ventura hit his 16th HR, a two-run shot. Todd Zeile & Edgardo Alfonzo also drove in two runs.

Sunday June 25th, 2000: The Mets completed the sweep of the Pirates in a 9-o Mike Hampton, complete game shut out. Piazza drove in two runs with two run double in the Mets five run 7th inning. He now passed the 60 RBI mark as he drove in a run for the ninth straight game & was batting .356. 

Robin Ventura & Derek Bell had two RBI's each, as well as runs driven in by Todd Zeile, Jay Payton & Melvin Mora on his 4th HR of the year.

Monday June 26th, 2000: The Marlins came to Shea next & in the series opener, Piazza added an RBI single in the 3rd inning. He had two hits & walk in the 10-5 Mets win. HRs by Benny Agbayani, Jay Payton, Mark Johnson & another by Melvin Mora led the way. In the second game on Tuesday, Piazza got a rest in the Mets win.

Wednesday June 28th, 2000:  The Mets swept this series as well, on the night Piazza collected two hits. He was credited with his 63rd RBI on a ground out to short, as Melvin Mora scored. It was his 11th straight game with an RBI, setting a club record.

Thursday- June 29th, 2000: The rival Atlanta Braves rolled into town for a big four game series. 

In the first game on Thursday, the Braves stopped the Mets win streak with a 6-4 win. In the bottom of the 3rd, Piazza hit a single off John Burkett with the bases loaded, as two runs scored. The RBI streak was alive at 12.

Friday June 30th, 2000:  In this classic game, the Mets had one of their biggest comebacks & one of their biggest innings in team history. They scored ten runs in the 8th inning after being down 8-1, to beat the Braves 11-8 in front of 52,831 fans at Shea Stadium. 

In that historic 8th inning, they sent 13 men to the plate, had six hits with the help of four walks issued by Braves pitching. 

The highlight was a three run HR by Mike Piazza breaking the tie & putting the Mets ahead 11-8. It was his 22nd HR of the year, he now had 68 RBIs while driving in run in a 13 straight games. He had singled earlier in the inning as well. He was batting .368 as the Shea crowd chanted MVP!

Saturday July 1st, 2000: On afternoon nationally broadcast FOX game of the week, Piazza would hit HR #23 & drive in two more runs. 

His run streak now at 14, as the Mets went on to a 9-1 win behind Al Leiter who bested his record to 10-1. In this one the Mets beat up on Greg Maddux for seven of those runs.

Derek Bell homered & doubled off Maddox driving in four runs.  Alfonso, Payton & Ventura all drove in a run each as well. Taking two of three from the Braves got the Mets within a game of first place as well.

Sunday July 2nd, 2000: The Mets lost the last game, to split the series. Piazza remained hot, he hit his 23rd HR of the year, it came off Tom Glavine. 

It was Piazza's third HR in as many games & his eighth over a 15-game span where he had driven in at least one run setting the franchise record. 

Piazza also had himself a 21-game hit streak during this stretch staring in June  into July. At this point in time he was also batting an .360.

His streak ended in Florida, as the Marlins Jesus Sanchez shut out the Mets 2-0. Ricky Bones & Armando Almanza pitched a scoreless 9th. Piazza did get a hit to keep his hit streak in tact.