Remembering Mets History (2000) Newcomer's Mike Bordick, Bubba Trammell & Rick White Immediately Contribute to Two Mets Victories

Saturday July 29th, 2000: At this point in the 2000 season, Bobby Valentine's New York Mets were in second place, five games behind the Atlanta Braves & in the front runner for the Wild Card spot.

The Mets had lost their main short stop Rey Ordonez for the rest of the season & were not willing to gamble on the young Melvin Mora to get them to the playoffs. In a deal with the Baltimore Orioles, the Mets dealt Mora, Mike Kinkade & Leslie Brea in exchange for solid veteran; Mike Bordick.

It was a good short-term move, as Bordick solidified the position, hit well enough & did help get the Mets to the World Series. In the long term Bordick left via free agency signing back with the Orioles. Melvin Mora went on to a fine ten-year career in Baltimore, making two All Star team's the Orioles' Hall of Fame. 

Mike Bordick arrived in New York to suit up for a Saturday afternoon matinee at Shea Stadium in front of 50,726 as the Mets hosted Tony LaRussa's first place St. Louis Cardinals (57-46). The starters were Rick Reed (5-2) for New York & Andy Benes (10-5) for the Cards.

In the top of the 2nd inning, Ray Lankford put St. Louis up 1-0 with a solo HR. 

In the bottom of the 3rd inning, in his first New York Mets at bat, Mike Bordick delivered with a solo HR to left field tying up the game. Bordick quickly won over the Shea fans as they gave him a big standing ovation. It was his 17th HR of the year.

In the inning, Cardinal pitcher Andy Benes issued three walks to Benny Agbayani, Jay Payton & Edgardo Alfonzo.  Mike Piazza's RBI single scored Payton & put the Mets up 2-1. 

In the top of the 4th inning, Edgar Renteria led off with a base hit. Jim Edmonds then blasted his 30th HR of the season, a two-run shot putting St. Louis up 3-2.

Rick Reed gave the Mets six innings, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out five walking two.

In the home 6th, Mike Piazza hit his 29th HR of the year, collecting his 85th RBI as well. The solo shot off Andy Benes tied up the game at three, exciting the big crowd. 

In the top of the 7th, Mets reliever Dennis Cook walked the pitcher, Benes & served up a double to Fernando Vina. With two men on base Ray Lankford hit a fly to center field, Jay Payton made the catch & threw home to Mike who tagged out Fernando Vina at the plate for the inning ending double play.

In the bottom of the 8th, Robin Ventura led off with a walk from the new Cards pitcher Mike James. Mike Bordick followed with his second hit of the day a base hit to right field. Benny Agbayani then drew to load up the bases.

Mets manager Bobby Valentine sent up one of his secret bench weapons, the reliable Lenny Harris. Harris delivered with an RBI single to right field scoring Ventura in what was the games winning run. 

The day before the Mets had also acquired relief pitcher Rick White & Outfielder Bubba Trammell in a deal with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Paul Wilson & Jason Tyner. 

In the top of the 8th, Rick White made his Mets debut, although he walked two batters he struck out Shawon Dunston to end the inning. 

White earned his first Mets win to get to 4-6 on the year. In his 12-year career the journeyman would pitch for 11 teams, going 6-8 with three saves in two seasons in New York.

In the top of the 9th, Armando Benitez closed it out as he earned his 25th save of the year. The Mets were on a five-game win streak.

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Sunday July 30th, 2000: The next day 45,733 came out to Shea Stadium for Sunday afternoon baseball as the Mets were going for the series sweep. Yesterday's win put them 14 games over .500 now five games behind the Braves.

In this game Bobby Jones (4-5) got the start for New York against the Cards Garrett Stephenson (11-6).

This afternoon another new Mets acquisition, Bubba Trammell got the start in rightfield. Bubba Trammell began his career with the Tigers in 1997, then was drafted by the expansion Tampa Rays in 1997. In his three years with the Rays, he batted .285 in his three years with the Rays.

In the bottom of the 1st, the Mets got on the board first as Benny Agbayani led off with his eighth HR of the year making it 1-0.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Todd Zeile drew a leadoff walk & Jay Payton singled to left field. Bubba Trammel came to bat hitting a three run HR in his Mets debut to put New York up 3-0. It was his 8th HR of the season, as Bubba quickly won over the Shea Faithful just as Mike Bordick had done the previous game.

Bubba Trammel Trivia: In his 36 games with the 2000 Mets Bubba batted .232 with three HRs two doubles & 12 RBIs. He was a good pinch hitter & extra outfielder. In the World Series he batted .400 (2-5) driving in three runs. 

At the end of the season, the Mets traded Trammell to the San Diego Padres for Donnie Wall. There Trammell hit 25 HRs & drove in 92 runs but his career was cut short due to a meniscus injury.

In the top of the 5th after Bobby Jones struck out the first two batters, he gave up a base hit to Fernando Tatis & a walk to Eduardo Perez. He then committed an error on Mike Matheny's ground ball to load the bases. But Jones struck out pinch hitter Thomas Howard looking to get out of the inning.

In the top of the 6th, Fernando Vina & Edgar Renteria led off with consecutive hits. Bobby Jones then struck out Jim Edmonds looking. Eric Davis grounded out allowing Vina to score the Cardinals first run. In the top of the 9th, Ray Lankford added a solo HR.

Bobby Jones pitched the complete game 4-2 win, for his only complete game of the year. Jones allowed two runs on just four hits, while striking out a season high nine batters. 

The victory extended the Mets win streak to six games.