Remembering Mets History (2000): NLCS Game #2: Mike Piazza HRs & Jay Payton's 9th Inning Single Puts NY Up 2-0

Thursday October 12th, 2000- NLCS Game #2- Busch Stadium St. Louis, Missouri: 

Bobby Valentine's Mets came into Game #2 up one game of the NLCS. 52,250 Cardinals fans came out to Busch Stadium as former Cardinals short stop, Ozzie Smith threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The Cards were still without their slugger Mark McGwire in the starting line up but he was available to pinch hit.

Bobby Valentine gave the ball to Al Leiter (16-8 / 200 Ks / 3.20 ERA) & his opponent was Rick Ankiel (11-7 / 3.50 ERA / 194 Ks) for Tony LaRussa.

The Cardinals' Rick Ankiel would suffer from control issues throughout this series, throwing wildly & way off the catcher's target. In this game, he had trouble right away, issuing three 1st inning walks & throwing a wild pitch. 

Edgardo Alfonzo, Mike Piazza both walked, the wild pitch got Alfonzo to third. A sac fly from Todd Zeile gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.

Robin Ventura drew the third walk & then Benny Agbayani doubled to left scoring Piazza to make it 2-0.

Ankiel was removed right after Agbayani's double as Britt Reames came on for Tony LaRussa's Cardinals. 

In the bottom of the 2nd, St. Louis got a double from Shawon Dunston & a base hit from Rick Lankford. Dunston did not score on the double but came home when Eli Marrero grounded out to Alfonzo at second.

In the 3rd inning, Mike Piazza led off with a solo HR off Britt Reams, adding to the Mets lead making it 3-1. It was Piazza first HR of this post season.

In the 5th inning with one out Fernando Vina collected an infield single that Leiter couldn't handle.  Edgar Renteria doubled him in making it 3-2. Renteria stole third base. After Jim Edmonds flew out, they tied it up on a Fernando Tatis double.  

Leiter retired the next seven batters & got the Mets to the 8th inning. Leiter pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on eight hits & struck out nine, leaving in the 3-3 tie. 

After the Piazza HR, Britt Reams held the Mets scoreless until the 6th inning. Matt Morris pitched a scoreless 6th & 7th innings.

In the top of the 8th with Morris on the mound, Timo Perez got a two out single. Eduardo Alfonzo hit a short single to left center field, Perez scampered all the way around the bases & was safe at home on the throw from Edmonds in center. 

Mike Piazza was intentionally walked to pitch to Todd Zeile. Dave Veres came in to pitch & Zeile then singled bringing in Alfonzo, giving the Mets a two-run 5-3 lead. Mike Piazza was thrown out trying to get to third base for the third out.

The Mets bullpen couldn’t hold the lead, in the bottom of the 8th, John Franco gave up a one out
walk to Carlos Hernandez & then a base hit to Will Clark. Franco then threw a wild pitch bringing in Hernandez with the fourth run. 

Franco was relieved by Turk Wendell who quickly gave up an RBI double to J.D. Drew tying the game up at 5-5. Slugger Mark McGwire who had been injured, came in as a pinch hitter & was intentionally walked. Wendall struck out Craig Paquette for the final out. Seven Cardinals came to the plate in the inning, scoring the two runs on two hits, two walks & wild pitch.

In the top of the 9th, Mike Timlin replaced Daryl Kile for St. Louis. Robin Ventura reached on an error by third baseman Craig Paquette who had replaced Fernando Tatis earlier in the game. 

Bobby Valentine went to work, managing against Tony Larussa. Benny Agbayani laid down a successful bunt, moving Ventura over to second base. "Super" Joe Mcewing was brought in to pinch run, as Jay Payton came to the plate. 

Payton singled to center bringing home Mcewing in what would be the games winning run. 

Armando Benitez got Vina & Renteria with fly ball outs in the 9th inning. He walked Jim Edmonds but struck out Carlos Hernandez to end the game, sending the Mets home with a 2-0 Series lead.