
41, 235 fans came out to Shea Stadium on a very emotional night of baseball & support for both New York City as well as America. Before the game there was a very moving ceremony honoring the victims of 911.
Starting Lineups
1 | Marcus Giles | 2B |
2 | Julio Franco | 1B |
3 | Chipper Jones | LF |
4 | Brian Jordan | RF |
5 | Ken Caminiti | 3B |
6 | Andruw Jones | CF |
7 | Javy Lopez | C |
8 | Rey Sanchez | SS |
9 | Jason Marquis | P |
1 | Matt Lawton | RF |
2 | Edgardo Alfonzo | 2B |
3 | Mike Piazza | C |
4 | Robin Ventura | 3B |
5 | Tsuyoshi Shinjo | LF |
6 | Todd Zeile | 1B |
7 | Jay Payton | CF |
8 | Rey Ordonez | SS |
9 | Bruce Chen | P |

Also during that evenings ceremonies, Diana Ross sang "God Bless America" & Liza Minelli sang "New York, New York".
There were special honored guests on hand; New York City firemen, policemen & other emergency workers. On this night, New York City attempted to get back to some kind of normal routine & it began with the playing of baseball. After the ceromonies, the two teams shook hands, hugged each other & proceeded to play ball.
Mets manager Bobby Valentine, sent pitcher; Bruce Chen to the mound to face off against a native New Yorker, Atlanta's Jason Marquis.
Leadoff batter Marcus Giles drew a walk, but was erased on a line drive double off the bat of Julio Franco. In the bottom of the 1st, Mike Piazza fittingly got the first hit of the game, a double to left field.

The two pitchers allowed just one run each before both getting relieved in the 7th inning.
The Mets (native New Yorker) John Franco came in & retired the first two batters of the 8th inning. But then he gave up a walk to Julio Franco & a single to Chipper Jones. Bobby Valentine came to the mound, Franco was relieved by Armando Benitez. Benitez surrendered the go ahead run on a double to Brian Jordan.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, Atlanta's Steve Karsay came in to pitch. Karsay another native New Yorker, was born in Flushing, Queens just a baseball throw over to Shea Stadium. He then attended high school in Middle Village, Queens New York.
Matt Lawton led off with a ground out to short. Karsay then walked Edgardo Alfonzo. Desi Relaford came in to pinch run and the Mets best hitter, Mike Piazza came to bat.

Mets broadcaster Howie Rose may have put it best, he said he saw fire fighters smile as Piazza rounded the bases. There is no doubt that that man lost friends, colleges & maybe even family members on that tragic day of 911.

As the years have gone by, the legend of this HR has even grown larger than life itself. It will never be forgotten.

It some how symbolized that New York City as well as America was back & moving forward. It was Piazza's 34th HR of the year, he had three hits on the night, bringing his average up to just under the .300 mark.
Armando Benitez came back in the 9th inning with the fans on their feet & still excited. Javier Lopez led off with a single & everyone held their breath as Armando was at it again. But on this night, even he came through. He struck out BJ Surhoff & closed out the 9th inning by striking out Gary Mathews Jr.
The Mets had a dramatic 3-2 vctory and pulled even closer to the Braves. The Mets won five straight & got to within three games of Atlanta. Then they eventually lost six of nine & fell out of the race.
Trivia: Even one of the most hated Mets opponents of that era; Chipper Jones, admitted it was the only time that he didn't mind losing a game, because of what it meant for New York City, baseball & the Country in the wake of tragedy.
1 comment:
Dude, you don't give Piazza's blast much credit now. That monster went to center field. Not only did it clear the 410 sign with room to spare but it almost went over the speaker system in the 'batter's eye'. I think only Agee's shot in 1970 went further at Shea. Such an epic homer.
I live in Richmond, VA and listened to the game on 660 in my car. I clearly remember pounding on my steering wheel and screaming as if I was at Shea when the blast was hit. (Luckily I didn't cause an accident!)
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