Remembering Mets History (2000) Mike Piazza Blasts Grand Slam in Subway Series Matchup

Friday June 9th, 2000: This highly anticipated regular season subway series game was a prelude to the World Series Subway Series, the first in New York City since 1956, forty years earlier. 

Bobby Valentines Mets (34-26) were in second place, 4.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves but the Mets were leading the wild card race.

 Tonight, they were across town in the Bronx, facing Joe Torre's A.L. New York club (32-24) a half game ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.

The starting pitchers for this matchup were the Mets Al Leiter (6-1) against Roger Clemens (4-5).

In the top of the 1st, short time Mets player Jason Tyner led off with a double, but the Mets left him stranded.

In the top of the 3rd inning, Tyner reached on a Jorge Posada throwing error to first base. Derek Bell drew a walk & both runners advanced on a passed ball that went by Posada.

Roger Clemens then walked Edgardo Alfonzo to load the bases for Mike Piazza. Piazza launched a rocket of his own, a grand slam HR to dead center field giving the Mets a 4-0 lead.

Piazza Grand Slam Trivia: It was Piazza's second grand slam of the 2000 season, as he would hit four on the year. In his career Mike Piazza hit 14 grand slam HRs.

Piazza Owns Clemens Trivia: In eight regular season match ups when Mike Piazza hit against Roger Clemens, Piazza batted .412 with four HRs eight extra base hits & ten RBIs. 

This HR & Piazza's dominance over the pitcher, led to Clemens throwing a pitch at Piazza's head & beaning him the following month in the subway series matchup.

In the bottom of the 4th, Melvin Mora walked, then stole second base as Clemens & catcher Jorge Posada's bad night continued. Derek Bell then singled in left field bringing in Mora for a 5-0 Mets lead. 

The AL New York team got a run in the 4th on Tino Martinez's double & Scott Brosius' base hit. They would get just one more run on a sac fly in the 5th.

In the top of the 5th, Piazza collected his second hit of the game, a base hit to left field. He moved up on Robin Ventura's ground out & Todd Zeile singled to center bringing in Mike for a 5-1 Mets lead.

In the top of the 6th inning, Jason Tyner singled with his second hit as he reached base three times. Tyner appeared to be picked off first base, but Roger Clemens throw went wild, Tyner advanced safely to second. Derek Bell doubled to right field scoring Tyner with the Mets seventh run.

Edgardo Alfonzo joined the hit brigade by bashing a two run HR to centerfield giving the Mets a 9-2 lead. For Edgardo it was his 12th HR of the year. 

Manager Joe Torre came out & removed Clemens to boos from the home fans & cheers from the Mets fans. 

On his night, Clemens gave up nine runs on ten hits, two HRs, including Piazza's grand slam. He also walked thee & struck out four. His ERA rose to 4.82 on the season as he would fall to 4-6.

In the top of the 7th, with Todd Eros now pitching, Jay Payton & Melvin Mora hit back-to-back one out singles. Derek Bell continued his big night, with a three run HR to left center field. Bell had a multi-three hit, season high multi-five RBI game while hitting his 8th HR of the season. 

The Mets went on to the 12-2 win. It was one of ten games where they put up 12 of more runs on the season. They collected 15 hits in the game, with Piazza, Bell & Jay Payton all having a multi-three hit game. Bell's five RBI's led the way, with Piazza driving in four runs, Edgardo Alfonzo driving in two & one RBI for Todd Zeile.

The Mets Al Leiter pitched seven innings, allowing a run on seven hits, striking out four & walking three. Turk Wendell & Rich Rodriguez both pitched a scoreless inning each. Leiter went to 7-1 on the season, he began the year at 5-0 then took a loss to the Dodgers before winning another five straight decisions to get to 10-1 by July 1st.