Remembering Mets History (2000): NLCS Game #4: Mets Score Ten Runs to Get to One Win Away from the NL Pennant

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Sunday October 15th, 2000: NLCS Game #4- Shea Stadium, New York: With the Mets up two games to one, Manager Bobby Valentine sent Bobby Jones (11-6 / 5.06 ERA) to the mound for Game #4. 

This was Jones first start since his one hitter against the San Francisco Giants to clinch the NLDS. His Cardinal opponent tonight; Daryl Kile (20-9 / 3.91 ERA). 55,665 excited Mets fans filled up Shea Stadium on a beautiful fall evening.



Tonight’s start wasn’t anywhere near as good as Bobby Jones' last when he one hit the Giants to clinch the NLDS. Jones surrendered six runs in four innings. 

In the top of the 1st, the Cards started off with a double from Fernando Vina then a two run HR from Jim Edmonds to take the early 2-0 lead.

The Mets answered right away, as they sent five men to the plate hitting four straight doubles off Kile in the bottom of the 1st. 

Timo Perez led off with a ground rule doble. Edgardo Alfonzo doubled to right bringing in New York's first run. Mike Piazza followed with a double, but Alfonzo was unable to score. 

Robin Ventura then doubled past Edmonds in deep center field bringing in both Alfonzo & Piazza making it 3-2 Mets. After Todd Zeile grounded out, Benny Agbayani hit the fifth double of the inning giving the Mets a 4-2 lead.

In the 2nd inning, the Met bats went to work again. With one out Timo Perez singled to left field, he then stole second base. Edgardo Alfonzo flew to centerfield advancing Perez to third. 

Mike Piazza was then walked intentionally, Darryl Kile then walked Robin Ventura loading the bases for Todd Zeile. Todd Zeile lined a double to left field bringing in two more runs, giving the Mets a 6-2 lead. 

Benny Agbayani followed with a base hit to center bringing in Ventura to make it 7-3 Mets. 

In the home 2nd, seven Mets came to the plate, scoring three runs on two hits & two walks.

The Mets got seven runs off twenty game winner, Daryl Kile in the first two innings. He would pitch into the 4th inning, after walking Timo Perez he was relieved by Mike James. Kile allowed seven runs on eight hits with three walks & two strike outs.

In the top of the 4th the Cardinals got a run-on Will Clark's solo shot.

In the bottom 4th inning, Mike Piazza added a HR off reliever; Mike James to extend the Mets lead to 8-3.  




In the 5th St. Louis got singles from J.D. Drew & Carlos Hernandez, then Eric Davis RBI doubled bringing in Drew. Bobby Valentine went to his bullpen & brought in Glendon Rusch, normally a starter. Rusch gave up a sac fly to Edgar Renteria, then a single to Jim Edmonds making it an 8-6 game.

In the home 6th, Mike Bordick walked & was bunted over by Glendon Rusch. Timo Perez reached on one of two errors made by third baseman Fernando Tatis. Mike Timlin hit Edgardo Alfonzo with a pitch loading the bases. 

Mike Piazza hit a grounder to third & Tatis made his second error which scored Bordick. Robin Ventura added a sac fly RBI making it 10-6 Mets, which turned out to be the final score.

Glendon Rusch earned the victory as he threw three solid innings from the 5th through the 7th, of shutout baseball. 




In the 8th, John Franco walked Ray Lankford & allowed a base hit to Fernando Tatis. He then got pinch hitter Craig Paquette to ground out to Ventura at third base.

In the 9th, Armando Benitez gave up a lead off single to Carlos Hernandez. Eli Marrero came in to pinch run, he advanced on defensive indifference. Benitez then walked Placido Polanco. After registering the second out the Mets had another defensive indifference call.

Benitez then struck out Edgar Renteria & got Jim Edmonds to fly out. The Mets were now one game away from advancing to the 2000 World Series.



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