Remembering Mets History (2006) Carlos Beltran Hits Record Three Grand Slams in a Month

Sunday, July 16th, 2006: Willie Randolph's first place Mets (55-376) were 18 games over .500 at this point in the season, with a thirteen-game lead atop the NL East. 

They had just come off a 5-3 homestand in games with the Pirates & Marlins. They began a six game road trip splitting the first two games at Wrigley Field against Dusty Baker's last place Cubs (35-56).   

They would continue to win throughout the summer going 15-9 in July with Carlos Beltran leading the mighty offense that month hitting 10 HRs with 32 RBIs with a 1.002 OPS in 24 games that month.

In the bottom of the 1st, Mets starter Orlando Hernandez gave up three hits including back-to-back RBI doubles to fall behind 2-0. 

In the bottom of the 2nd, Sean Marshall led off with a HR, then Juan Pierre singled stole second & scored on Michael Barrett's RBI double. Jacque Jones added an RBI single to make it a 5-0 Cubs lead.

In the top of the 4th, Chris Woodward hit his third HR of the season, then in the 5th Cliff Floyd led off with his ninth HR of the year making it a 5-2 game.

Grand Slam #1: In the top of the 6th inning, Carlos Beltran reached on an error, then Carlos Delgado & David Wright singled to load the bases. Cliff Floyd came on, hitting his second HR of the game, the grand slam put the Mets ahead 6-5. It was Floyd's sixth career grand slam, his fourth as a Mets player.

Sean Marshall left the game as Roberto Novoa came on to pitch. He walked Xavier Nady then got Ramon Castro on a fielder's choice. Endy Chavez added an RBI single & stole second base. Jose Valentin drove the Mets fifth hit of the inning to load the bases once again.

Grand Slam #2: This time Carlos Beltran came on & hit a grand slam HR, the Mets second of the inning. It was Beltran's first grand slam as a Mets Player & the fifth of his career. It was also his 26th HR of the season as he reached 73 RBIs. The Mets had an 11-5 lead but more was to come.

Carlos Delgado doubled into left field & David Wright followed with his 21st HR of the year, giving the Mets the 13-5 lead & capping off the eleven-run inning. 

Historic Inning: The Mets became just the seventh team in MLB history to hit two grand slams in one inning & it was the first time in franchise history the Mets had done it. The eleven runs was the biggest inning of the season for the Mets, as they sent 16 men to the plate collected eight hits, drew three walks & benefited from a Cubs error.

Quotes- Carlos Beltran: "I never saw the guy on third, but then I saw three guys at home plate, so I was excited".

The Cubs Phil Nevin added a HR but the Mets went on to a 13-7 victory.

Tuesday, July 18th, 2006: The Mets Road trip moved on to the Great American Ballpark at Cincinnati Ohio. 

Willie Randolph's Mets (56-37) took on Jerry Narron's second place Reds (49-45).

Mets Rookie Mike Pelfrey was making just his second start after having had beaten the Florida Marlins in his MLB debut ten days earlier.

In the top of the 3rd, Xavier Nady hit his 13th HR of the season to give the Mets their first run. In the top of the 5th Jose Valentin hit his tenth HR of the season giving the Mets a 2-0 lead. In the top of the 6th Jose Reyes walked & scored on Paul LoDuca's double to left field for a 3-0 lead.

Pelfrey shut out the Reds thru the first five innings, surrendering two runs in the 6th, as the Reds collected two singles, then an RBI grounder by Brandon Phillips & an RBI base hit from Royce Clayton.

In the top of the 7th inning, with the Mets leading 3-2, Xavier Nady collected his second hit of the game with a base hit to left field.  Jose Valentin dropped a bunt in front of the catcher & also reached safely. With two outs Paul LoDuca drew a walk bringing up the hot hitting Carlos Beltran to face Eric Milton.

Second Grand Slam in Back-to-Back Games: Beltran blasted his second grand slam in two games, giving the Mets a 7-2 lead. It was his sixth career grand slam, his second with the Mets.

It was also Beltran's 27th HR of the season giving the Mets a 7-2 lead.

In the top of the 9th, Endy Chaves singled then was forced on Jose Reyes fielder's choice. Beltran delivered his second extra base hit of the night, an RBI double giving him a multi-five RBI game.

Trivia: In the past two games Beltran had nine RBIs. In his last seven games he had three HRs, with 13 RBIs & ten runs scored with a 1.122 OPS. 

The Mets went on to an 8-3 win.

Sunday July 30th, 2006: Willie Randolph's first place Mets (63-41) were rolling along on a four-game win streak with the comfortable 13.5 game lead over the second place Philadelphia Phillies. 

Tonight, the Mets were in Atlanta to play Bobby Cox's fourth place Atlanta Braves (48-56) in front of 40,526 fans at Turner Field.

Tom Glavine returned to make the start for the Mets in his old ballpark facing Chuck James.

In the top of the 1st, Jose Reyes led off with a base hit then stole second with two outs. Carlos Delgado then hit a two run HR, his 26th of the season.

In the top of the 2nd inning, Mets pitcher Tom Glavine & Jose Reyes both singled. Paul LoDuca then drew a walk to load the bases. Carlos Beltran stepped up with the bases loaded. 

Grand Slam: The previous night, Beltran had hit two HRs & drove in four runs & was smoking red hot. Here he blasted his third grand slam HR of the month, tying a major league record. It was his seventh career grand slam, his third as a Mets player. 

The Mets as a team, belted out six grand slams in the month of July which was also a record. 

In the top of the 5th inning, Beltran hit his 32nd HR of the year, a solo shot which set a new single season franchise mark for centerfielders. The Mets went on to a 10-6 win. 

Carlos Beltran Trivia: Beltran would earn the NL Player of the Month Award, hitting ten HRs, with three grand slams while driving in twenty runs. 

From July 24th to August 1st, he would collect 13 hits, with six HRs & drive in 17 runs with five straight multi-hit games, winning him the Player of the Week Award. In July Beltran hit three grand slams, with ten HRs six doubles & 32 RBIs with a 1.002 OPS.

In 2006, Beltran tied a franchise record set by Todd Hundley hitting 41 HRs, he drove in 116 runs hit 38 doubles & posted a career high .932 OPS.

Beltran would hit two more grand slams as a Mets player in his career. In 2008 he hit a grand slam off the Marlins Kelvin Gregg. In 2011 he hit his last Mets grand slam off the Tigers Daniel Schlereth. Overall, in his career Beltran would hit 11 grand slam HRs.