Remembering Mets History (2000) Mets Hit Four HRs in 10-5 Win As Benny Agbayani Blasts Two

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 Monday June 26th, 2000: Bobby Valentine's Mets (42-31) were on a four game win streak, in the midst of a seven game win streak where they also took nine of ten games. They were hit as they were in second place chasing the Atlanta Braves, just 3.5 games back. On this evening they hosted John Boles' Florida Marlins (38-39) in front of 19,657 at Shea Stadium.

John Boles had taken over as manager of the Marlins the previous year, replacing Jim Leyland who won the 1997 World Series with them. Boles would get replaced by Tony Perez in 2001, then Jeff Torborg would take over in 2002, until May 2003, when he was replaced by Jack McKeon who would take the Marlins to another World's Championship that year.

Tonight's starters were Al Leiter, who came into his game at 8-1 with a 3.08 ERA. Leiter would go 16-8 for the 2000 NL Champions, posting a 3.20 ERA behind Mike Hampton. He went up against former Met Reid Cornelius who went 3-7 in ten starts for the 1995 Mets.


The Marlins Mike Lowell homered to lead off the 2nd inning, giving the Marlins a 1-0 lead.

In the Mets home 3rd, Jay Payton led off with a single. Benny Agbayani then lifted a HR over the left field wall giving the Mets a 2-0 lead. Melvin Mora would later single & Edgardo Alfonzo drew a walk. Mike Piazza singled home Mora with the Mets third run 3-1.

Derek Lee would homer off Leiter in the 4th bringing the Marlins within a run 3-2. In the top of the 5th Luis Castillo singled & Dave Berg tripled for Florida. Cliff Floyd singled in Castillo to tie the game at three.

Derek Bell walked & Reid Cornelius walked two to load the bases for the Mets in the bottom of the 5th. Robin Ventura grounded out but Bell scored putting the Mets up again.

In the bottom of the 6th, Payton led off with a base hit. Mark Johnson then too Cornelius deep with a HR to dead center, the Mets were up 6-3 & Cornelius exited to Joe Strong. Ron Mahay came in to pitch the Mets home 7th.

Robin Ventura led off with a walk, then with two outs the Jay Payton & Benny Agbayani blasted back to back HRs, making it 8-3. For Agbayani it was one of just two multi HR games he would have on the season, both coming in June. It were his 5th & 6th HRs of the season, number eight fir Payton. 

Pinch hitter Kurt Abbot doubled & Melvin Mora hit the Mets third HR of the inning, a two run shot making it 8-3 in the four run inning. They went on to a 10-5 win, extending the win streak to five.

Leiter got the win to get to 9-1, Dennis Cook & Turk Wendell got credit for hold's. John Franco, Rich Rodriguez & Armando Benitez all pitched in as well.

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