Remembering Mets Opening Days (2013) Mets Romp the Padres at Citi Field

The 2013 Mets began the season coming off a fourth-place finish going 74-88 the previous year. 

Manager Terry Collins was in his third year working with the talent he was given.

The Mets star pitcher Johan Santana was out with injury, as he had torn his shoulder capsule for the second time. He would miss the entire season & his career came to an end.

The Mets Opening Day line up featured the teams top player David Wright, along with the steady Daniel Murphy & sluggers Lucas Duda & Ike Davis. The newest Mets Marlon Byrd who had signed via free agency. Behind the plate, veteran catcher John Buck had come over in the R.A. Dickey Trade. Buck would tutor the young Travis d'Arnaud. 

Rusty Staub Tosses Out the First Pitch

Colin Cowgill would bat leadoff; he was another one of those players Terry Collins was hopeful on starting out a season like Brad Emus & Andrew Brown.

Jonathon Niese would make his first & only Opening Day start in front of 41,053 at Citi Field On this afternoon, the Mets hosted Bud Black's San Diego Padres, with Edison Volquez getting the start. In 2012 the Padres had finished fourth 76-86 & would post the same record in 2013 finishing third.

New York Mets legend Rusty Staub threw out the ceremonial first pitch as a new season was underway.

March 28th, 2013: In the 1st inning, Chris Denorfia led off with a base hit to start the season. Niese also walked a batter but got out of the inning. 

In the home 2nd, John Buck drew a two out walk, Ruben Tejada then doubled bringing in Buck giving the Mets a 1-0 lead.  The pitcher Jon Niese also singled with a liner into short left field, bringing in Buck with the Mets second run. 

In the top of the 3rd, the Padres Chris Denorfia drew a walk then Niese hit Everth Cabrera with a pitch. Carlos Quentin then singled to center making it a 2-1 game as Denorfia scored.

In the home 3rd, David Wright singled & stole second. He advanced to third on a ground out &

then scored on Marlon Byrd's base hit. Lucas Duda walked & John Buck singled, bringing in the Mets fourth run. 4-1 New York.

In the bottom of the 4th, the Mets struck again. Jon Niese walked reaching base for the second time, then Colin Cowgill doubled to left field. Daniel Murphy singled, driving in Niese with making it 5-1. 

A slow grounder to third base by David Wright scored the speedy Cowgill with the sixth Mets run. After Ike Davis struck out, Marlon Byrd collected his second RBI hit of the game, driving in Murph to make it 7-1 Mets. The Mets sent eight men to the plate in the three run three hit inning.

In the top of the 6th, Jon Niese gave up a lead off HR to Yonder Alonso. Neise would have a fine day, giving up two runs on four hits, striking out four walking two & hitting a batter in 6.2 innings of work.

Grand Slam HR: In the bottom of the 7th, the Mets had another big inning sending nine men to
the plate. Padre pitcher Brad Brach walked Lucus Duda, John Buck & Ruben Tejada followed with base hits. Colin Cowgill made Terry Collins decision brilliant in giving him the start as he hit his only career grand slam HR, giving the Mets the 11-2 lead. 

Trivia: Colin Cowgill would play just 23 games with the Mets hitting one other HR before getting traded to Anaheim in June.

The Mets bullpen of Brandon Lyon relieved Niese in the 7th. Scott Atchison came in for a scoreless 8th inning & Scott Rice closed it out for the Mets first win of the season.

The Mets continued to be one of the most successful opening day teams in the history of the game. 

The rest of the 2013 season had them finish 74-88 in third place, their seventh losing season in a row. But things slowly got better & a World Series appearance was just years away.