Remembering Mets History (1997) Edgardo Alfonzo's First Career Grand Slam Leads Mets to Win in St. Louis

Thursday August 14th, 1997: Bobby Valentine's Mets were a much-improved team from the previous years. At this point they were 14 games over .500 at 66-53 but in third place. 

Tonight, the Mets were in St. Louis playing Tony LaRussa's fourth place Cardinals (54-66) who were struggling at twelve games under .500. In 1996 St. Louis had won the NL Central Division but would finish fourth this season. 28,411 came out to Busch Stadium as Bobby Jones went u against Donovan Osborne.

Bobby Jones (12-7) had started the year at 11-2 but had lost four straight decisions, not earning a victory since June 20th. 

Tonight, he went up against St. Louis' Donovan Osbourne (2-4). Osborne was coming off his best season the previous year 13-9 with a 3.53 ERA. 

After a scoreless 1st inning, the Cardinals threatened in the 2nd, as Mark McGwire & Ron Gant led off with base hits. After recording the next two outs, Bobby Jones threw a wild pitch then walked John Mabry to load the bases. Then the pitcher Donovan Osborne grounded out to end the inning. 

In the top of the 5th inning, the game was still scoreless as Bernard Gilkey led off with a double & Todd Pratt reached on an infield single on a slow roller to second base. Rey Ordonez then dragged a bunt back to the mound, Bernard Gilkey was able to score from third & Ordonez reached first safely as well.

Bobby Jones struck out for the second out. Brian McRae then reached when he hit yet another weak infield ground ball, this one to Gary Gaetti at third base. With the bases loaded Edgardo Alfonso stepped up to the plate.

Edgardo Alfonso blasted Donovan Osborne's pitch over the Busch Stadium left field fence for a grand slam HR. It gave the Mets a 5-0 lead. It was Alfonzo's eighth HR of the season & his first career grand slam.

Trivia: Alfonzo would hit three career regular season grand slam HRs, this his only regular season one with the Mets. In the 1999 NLDS Game #1, Alfonzo hit two HRs including a 9th inning grand slam off the diamondbacks Bobby Chouinard. 

Alfonso was in his third season with the Mets; it was the start of the best years of his career through 2002. In 1997 he led the team in hitting (.315) & in hits (163). He hit 10 HRs 27 doubles 72 RBIs with a .391 on base % & .823 OPS.

In the bottom of the 5th, pitcher Donovan Osborne singled & stole second. Delino Deshields then hit a two run HR, making it a 5-2 game. That year Deshields' hit 11 HRs while leading the NL with 14 triples.

In the top of the 6th, Butch Huskey led off with a walk. Todd Pratt then hit his second double of the year, the RBI double scored Huskey to make it a 6-2 Mets lead. 

Bobby Jones allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. He earned his first win in almost two months to get to 13-7. The Mets bullpen of Turk Wendell, Greg McMichael & Mel Rojas finished off the 6-2 Mets win. 

The Mets went to 67-53 on the season, although they had the third best record in the NL, both teams with a better record were in their division, Atlanta & Florida. The Marlins would win the wild card & go on to win the World Series.