Remembering Mets History (2001) Bobby Valentine Wins 1000th Career Game in the Franchise's 22nd One Hit Game Pitched

 Saturday July 14th, 2001: A large crowd of 52,006 came out to this Shea Stadium matinee to see Bobby Valentine's Mets (39-52) host Jimmy Williams Boston Red Sox (52-37). 

The Mets were the reigning NL Champions but were struggling mightily, twelve games behind the Atlanta Braves in fourth place. It was a terrible follow up to the 2000 season. They would gain some steam toward the end of the season, that would suffer the tragedy of 911 but still finish at 82-80.

Bobby Valentine Trivia: Boby Valentine had been a coach with the Mets then began managing with the Texas Rangers (1985-1992). In Texas he got the Rangers over .500 five times but never finished higher than third place. In eight years with the Rangers, he posted a 581-605 record.

The starters today would be Glendon Rusch for the Mets (4-5) & Rolando Arrojo (1-3) for Boston.

Glendon Rusch would pitch his finest game on this day. 

In the top of the 1st, the 24-year-old left hander started out the game striking out Jose Offerman. After Chris Stynes reached on an error, Rusch gave up a single to Trot Nixon. That would be the only hit Rusch allowed on the day.

Ruch retired the next eleven batters before issuing a walk to Scott Hatteberg the 5th inning. He then retired the next twelve Sox in a row while striking out ten batters throughout the game. 

Glendon earned his fifth win to get to 5-5 on the season. 

In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Mark Johnson led off with his third HR of the season, coming off Rolando Arrojo. 

Later in the 7th, Desi Relaford led off with a double in the right center field gap. Robin Ventura grounded out advancing Relaford to third. 

Mark Johnson then grounded out to Jose Offerman at second base & Desi Relaford scored the second Mets run.

In the 9th, Armando Benitez came on having an easy three up three down inning to earn his 20th save.

Trivia: This was the 22nd one hitter thrown by a Mets pitcher in franchise history. The last one had been in the 2000 NLDS when Bobby Jones one hit the San Francisco Giants in Game #4 to clinch the series.

Mets Trivia: Today's Mets win would give Bobby Valentine his 1000th win as manager. 

In New York Valentine was one of just two managers to take the Mets to the post season in back-to-back seasons, he was the first to do it. 

From 1996-2002 Bobby managed the Mets, taking them to two straight post seasons for the first time in team history. He got them to two NLCS while winning one NL Pennant. 

Valentine posted two seasons of 94 or more wins, while finishing over .5000 five straight years. His Met teams would go 536 - 467 in 1003 games. Bobby V has the third most wins & third most games in Mets managerial history.