Remembering Mets History (2006) Mets Score Season High 17 Runs (Jose Valentin 7 RBIs & Cliff Floyd 5 RBIs)
This was the second game of a doubleheader in which the Mets had lost the first game 3-2.
A good crowd of 41,477 had all filled in for the second game played in the evening.
Tonight, Mike Pelfrey was making his MLB debut going up against the Marlins' Ricky Nolasco.
In the top of the 1st, the first batter Mike Pelfrey faced Alfredo Amezaga reached on an infield single then stole second base.He struck out Hanley Ramirez but got wild hitting Dan Uggla with a pitch. Then Miguel Cabrera hit into an inning double play.
In the bottom of the 1st, Endy Chavez led off with a triple into center field. Paul Loduca singled bringing in Endy with the Mets first run.
Carlos Beltran walked & Cliff Floyd singled to load the bases for Jose Valentin. Valentin hit his seventh career grand slam HR giving the Mets a 5-0 lead. It was Jose's ninth HR of the year. On July 21st, Valentin would hit another grand slam the ninth & last of his career.
The Marlins came back with two runs off Pelfrey in the top of the 2nd.In the 2nd inning, the Mets with two outs Paul Loduca was hit by a pitch, Carlos Beltran then singled to left field & David Wright drew a walk loading the bases. Ricky Nolasco then walked Cliff Floyd fringing in the Mets sixth run.
Jose Valentin coming up again with the bases loaded, hit a shot to deep right field, clearing the bases with a three-run triple. Valentin now had a career high seven RBI game, giving the Mets a 9-2 lead knocking Rickly Nolasco out of the game.
Jose Valentin Trivia: The 36-year-old Jose Valentin had been given a chance by the Mets as a free agent. He ended up taking over the second base position from Kaz Matsui & put in a fine year, batting .271 with 18 HRs 24 doubles & 62 RBIs. Although he had 12 multi- RBI games, this his was his biggest day as a Met driving in seven runs. The seven RBI game was the second highest RBI game in franchise history up to that point.
In the bottom of the 4th inning, Carlos Beltran led off with a walk, with one out, Cliff Floyd hit his 7th HR of the year, the two run shot coming off Jason Vargas, making it 11-3 Mets. On the mound for the Mets, Mike Pelfrey had a good MLB debut, pitching five innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three. He would be relieved by Henry Owens who would pitch just three games as a New York Met.
Cliff Floyd collected five RBIs on the night, a season high that he would match a week later at Wrigley Field in a multi-HR game as well.
The Mets put up a season high 17 runs collecting 16 hits in the victory.
The Mets now had a 12-game lead over the second place Philadelphia Phillies & a 12.5 lead over the Florida Marlins in third place.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Mets collected three straight singles by Chris Woodward, Xavier Nady & Endy Chavez. Then David Wright & Cliff Floyd hit back-to-back, ground rule doubles giving the Mets a 16-3 lead.
Cliff Floyd collected five RBIs on the night, a season high that he would match a week later at Wrigley Field in a multi-HR game as well. In the bottom of the 7th, Carlos Beltran added a solo HR off Jason Vargas, his team leading 25th of the season. Vargas was the sacrificial lamb for his team, pitching 6.1 innings giving up eight runs on ten hits in the 17-3 loss.
Pedro Feliciano & Aaron Heilman would close it out, each pitching a scoreless inning. Pelfrey earned his first career win.
Jose Valentin had two hits with seven RBIs, a grand slam &bases clearing three run double. Cliff Floyd had three hits, with five RBIs & five runs scored. Endy Chavez collected three hits, with Paul LoDuca having a two hit multi-three RBI game.
The Mets now had a 12-game lead over the second place Philadelphia Phillies & a 12.5 lead over the Florida Marlins in third place.