Remembering Mets History (2000) Mets Hit Four HRs as Benny Agbayani Has a Multi-HR Game

 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.

In the top of the 2nd, the Marlins Mike Lowell homered to lead off giving the Marlins a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Jay Payton led off with a base hit. Benny Agbayani then lifted a HR over the left field wall giving the Mets a 2-0 lead. It was Benny's fifth HR of the season.

After Al Leiter grounded out, Melvin Mora reached on an infield single & Edgardo Alfonzo drew a walk. Mike Piazza singled into left field bringing home Mora with the Mets third run 3-1.

 In the top of the 4th, Derek Lee homered off Leiter bringing the Marlins within a run, 3-2. In the top of the 5th Luis Castillo singled but was caught trying to steal second. Dave Berg tripled & Cliff Floyd singled tying up the game at three.

In the bottom of the 5th, Derek Bell collected a base hit. Then Reid Cornelius walked Edgardo Alfonzo & Mike Piazza to load the bases. Robin Ventura grounded out as Derek Bell was able to score putting the Mets ahead again.

In the bottom of the 6th, Payton led off with a base hit. Reid Cornelius exited the game & Joe Strong came into pitch. He was greeted by Mark Johnson hitting his first HR of the year, a two-run shot to dead center putting New York up 6-3. 

In the bottom of the 7th, Ron Mahay came in to pitch for the Marlins. Robin Ventura led off with a walk, then after two outs were recorded, Jay Payton & Benny Agbayani blasted back-to-back HRs, making it an 8-3 Mets lead. 

Benny's Multi- HR Game: For Agbayani it was one of his two multi-HR games he would have on the season, with both games coming in June. It was Agbayani's sixth HR of the season, & number eight for Payton. 

Pinch hitter Kurt Abbot came on & doubled to left field. Melvin Mora then hit the Mets third HR
of the four-run inning, a two-run shot making it 10-3. They would go on to a 10-5 win, extending the win streak to five.

Al Leiter got the win to get to 9-1 with a 3.16 on the season. Turk Wendell threw a scoreless 7th inning, John Franco got the first out of the 8th, then Rich Rodriguez faced six batters giving up three hits & two walks as the Marlind put two runs on the board. Armando Benitez closed out the game.