Remembering Mets History (2014): Ruben Tejada Has Two Basehit Walk Off Games

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Sunday May 11th 2014: In this Mothers Day, 28926 came out to Citi Field as Terry Collins Mets (17-19) hosted Ryne Sandberg's Philadelphia Phillies (17-19).

The Mets Jonathon Niese took the mound against the hated Cole Hamels.


Starting Lineups



In the 1st, the reigning NL Stolen base leader, the Mets Eric Young singled &  stole second. He came around to score on David Wright's RBI single.

 The Phils came back with Cody Asche's RBI double & small ball hits in the 4th, going ahead 3-1. They added another run, late off reliever Jose Valverde, when two other hated Phillies, Chase Utley tripled in Jimmy Rollins to make it 4-1.

 The bottom of the 9th proved exciting as the Mets got to Phillie reliever Antonio Bastardo. Eric Young led off with a double, Daniel Murphy then hot a two run HR bringing the Mets within a run. After David Wright struck out, Chris Young doubled but was not able to score on Bobby Abreu's base hit. Juan Lagares then grounded out to short & Young was able to score tying the game.
Jeurys Familia & Scott Rice put on two base runners but managed to hold them down in the top of the 11th & Jeff Manship took over for Philadelphia. 

 Chris Young led off with an infield single on a play Rollins couldd't make. Rookie Zack Wheeler came in & added a sacrifice, moving Young to scoring position. Juan Lagares was then walked intentionally. Anthony Recker added an infield single but Young couldn't score, loading the bases.

 Ruben Tejada, who was batting under .200, came through with a single to left field, winning the game with a walk off hit.




Monday July 7th 2014: Almost two moths later Tejada would have another big Mets moment.

As 20,836 fans came out on "Military Monday" as the Mets honored veterans, wearing their desert camouflage uniforms. The team would have four Military Monday's honoring Veterans throughout the 2014 season.

Tonight the Mets (40-49) hosted Fredi Garcia's Atlanta Braves (49-40).

Starting Lineups



 New York scored first as Eric Campbell led off the 2nd with a walk & Travis d'Arnaud doubled him in. In the 3rd, David Wright hit a solo HR his 7th HR of the season. He would hit just eight all season in 134 games played.

 The 2-0 lead held up as Daisuke Matsuzaka took the Mets to the 8th inning. But the bullpen of Vic Black, Josh Edgin & Jenry Mejia gave up four hits, a wallk a wild pitch & three runs. The Mets were now down 3-2 going into the bottom of the 8th.
Curtis Granderson tied the game with his 13th HR of the year, it came off reliever Luis Avilan. The Braves put two on in the 9th but Mejia wiggled out of it. The Mets got two men on in the bottom of the 9th as well but were unable to score as Shae Simmons got Eric Young to ground out.

 Carlos Torres pitched two scoreless innings getting the Mets to the bottom of the 11th. With Anthony Varvaro on the hill for Atlanta the Mets attatcked. Juan Lagares doubled with one out. Lucas Duda was walked intentionally. Travis d'Arnaudhit a shot to deep to centerfield, but the ball was caught for out number two.

Up came little Ruben Tejada, who was hitting well enough to raise his average to .241, a good fifty point increase in the two months since his last walk off hit. Here Tejada singled through short & third base bringing home Lagares with the walk off winning run.

 In 2014 Tejada batted .237 with a .342 on base %, adding a career high 5 HRs while driving in 34 runs & scoring 30 runs playing in 119 games. 

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