Remembering Mets History (2005) Mets Hit Seven HRs & David Wright Hits First Career Grand Slam in a 16-4 Win at Philadelphia
After four disappointing seasons, the Mets had added some power to the line up with all-star free agent Carlos Beltran & top pitcher Pedro Martinez. The Mets would improve by 12 wins from the previous year & a divisional title was just a year away.
Tonight, the Mets visited the City of Brotherly Love facing Charlie Manuel's Phillies. The Phils would have one of their bests stretches in their hundred-thirty year plus history, finishing second six straight years making one playoff appearance before winning the 2009 pennant.
In the bottom frame, Zambrano had trouble allowing hits to Jimmy Rollins & Kenny Lofton, then walked Bobby Abreu to load the bases. Jim Thome's double play brought in the Phils first run making it 1-1.
In the top of the 2nd, David Wright drew a one out walk, Next, promising young rookie Victor Diaz hit a two run HR giving the Mets a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the 2nd, Chase Utley homered to start out the inning narrowing the Mets lead to 3-2.
In the top of the 3rd, the Mets had a big two out rally. Mike Piazza hit the Mets third HR of the night, a solo shot off Padilla for his second HR of the season. Piazza would hit 19 HRs that season which was his last as a Mets player.
After David Wright singled, Victor Diaz followed with his second HR of the night, the fifth HR of the game for the Mets. This was the third time in team history the Mets had hit five HRs in a game (1985 & 1999). It was also the first multi-HR game for Victor Diaz who would have another in Los Angeles later that August. The two-run shot gave the Mets an 8-2 lead.
In the Mets five run inning, they hit two HRs, collected five hits sending eight men to the plate, all against Vicente Padilla.
Victor Zambrano Trivia: In his six-year career, this was the only triple Zambrano ever hit & the
two RBIs were part of just four he collected in his 73 career at bats.
In the top of the 4th, Jose Reyes hit his second HR of the game, taking Gavin Floyd deep for the Mets sixth HR of the evening. This set a new Mets record for team HRs in a single game, but they weren't done yet. For Jose Reyes it was his second career multi-HR game, the first coming in his 2003 Rookie season.
In the top of the 5th, with one out Doug Mientkiewicz doubled & Victor Diaz drew a two out intentional walk. Pitcher Victor Zambrano then tripled bringing in both runners for an 11-4 Met lead.
Mets Franchise Record for Most HRs in a Game: The HR was the Mets seventh long ball of the night setting the new franchise record that would last a decade until the 2015 NL Pennant winners hit eight HRs in a game, also in Philadelphia & also scoring 16 runs.
The Mets 16 runs was the second most they scored on the 2005 season, on August 24th, they put up 18 runs in an 18-4 win in Arizona.