Remembering Mets History (1998) Butch Huskey Drives in Team Record Five Runs in an Inning

Tuesday May 26th, 1998: Bobby Valentines New York Mets (26-20) were improving each season.

They entered tonight's game on a four-game win streak, winning seven of their last nine games. The win streak would go nine games ending on May 31st. The 1998 Mets won 88 games going 88-74 the same record they had posted the previous year. The next two seasons they would make the playoffs getting to the 1999 NLCS & 2000 World Series.

In tonight's matchup they visited South Florida to face the reigning World Champion Marlins (17-33). After winning the World Series the Marlins had a fire sale, selling off their top players getting them to a last-place finish in 1998 losing 108 games. 

Tonight, the Mets Dave Mlicki (1-3) went up against the Fish's Andy Larkin (2-4).

In the top of the 1st inning, Brian McRae & Bernard Gilkey started the game with walks. After Mike Piazza grounded into a double play John Olerud drove a base hit to centerfield giving the Mets an early 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the 1st, the Marlins got base hits from Edgar Renteria & Todd Zeile then Dave Mlicki issued a two walk to load the bases. Ryan Jackson then hit a grand slam HR giving Florida the 4-1 lead. In his brief four-year career Jackson hit just seven HRs.

In the bottom of the 5th, Todd Dunwoody tripled into the right centerfield gap. Edgar Renteria then singled bringing him in for the Marlins fifth run. 

Dave Mlicki was relieved by Brian Bohanon.

Nine Run Inning: In the top of the 6th inning, Carlos Baerga singled to start things off. Edgardo Alfonzo then doubled putting two on for Butch Huskey. Huskey, the last Met to wear the uniform #42, drilled a two run double to centerfield bringing in Baerga & Alfonzo.

Rey Ordonez followed with a base hit. The pitcher Brian Bohanon helped himself out with a base hit thru the short stop second base hole scoring Huskey getting New York to within a run. Pitcher Andy Larkin was relieved by Ryan Dempster.

Brian McRae hit a sac fly that scored Rey Ordonez to tie the game at five. Bernard Gilkey walked, then after Piazza flew out to centerfield, John Olerud collected his second hit of the game, a two run double to center field giving the Mets the lead.

Dempster continued to struggle walking Carlos Baerga & giving up a base hit to Edgardo Alfonzo to load the bases for Butch Huskey.

Mets RBI Record: Huskey delivered the bases clearing three run double, setting a franchise record with five RBIs in the same inning. The Mets took the 10-5 lead. They sent 13 men to the plate, scored nine runs one shy of the franchise record ten set in 1979. They collected eight hits & two walks along the way. On August 16th, 1988, the Mets had also put up nine runs in an inning. 

Trivia: Butch Huskey's five RBIs in the inning would hold for 18 years until Yoenis Cespedes drove in six runs in the 3rd inning of an April 29th, 2016, win over the Giants.

Huskey began his career with the Mets spending five seasons with them, driving in 214 runs, with a season best 81 in 1997. In December 1998 he was traded to the Mariners for pitcher Leslie Brea.

 In the bottom of the 8th the Marlins, Mark Kotsay hit a triple & scored on Todd Zeile's ground out. The Mets went on the 10-6 win.