Remembering Mets History: (2000) NLDS Game #2: Mets Even Series with the Giants

October 5th, 2000: NLDS Game #2- Pac Bell Park, San Francisco, California. The 2000 NLDS opened up in San Francisco with Giants beating the Mets 5-1. The Giants Livan Hernandez was the winning pitcher as Mike Hampton took the loss for New York.

Ellis Burks three run HR led the way for the Giants, with RBI's from Barry Bonds & Jeff Kent as well. The Mets only gathered five hits with the lone run driven in by Jay Payton's sac fly.

The Mets regrouped for Game #2. Manager Bobby Valentine sent Al Leiter (16-8 / 3.20 ERA) to the mound to face the Giants Sean Estes (15-6 / 4.26 ERA).  A crowd of40,430 fans entered Pac Bell Park at 8:07 Eastern time for the big prime time match up.

In the top of the 2nd, the Mets got some help from Shawn Estes as he hit Robin Ventura with a pitch. He then walked Benny Agbayani & after retiring Jay Payton, he walked Mike Bordick to load the bases.

Al Leiter attempted a squeeze play but Ventura was put out at home. 

In stepped the hot hitting little Mets outfielder, Timo Perez. Perez continued his hot streak, as he singled to center, bringing in the first two Mets runs. 

In the bottom of the 2nd, Ellis Burks doubled home Jeff Kent putting the Giants on the board, as it was a 2-1 Mets.

After giving up a single in the 2nd inning, Al Leiter held the Giants hitless until the 8th inning when Calvin Murray singled with one out. But he quickly got Bill Mueller to ground into an inning ending double play.

The score remained 2-1 until the 9th inning.  Shawn Estes was removed from the game after getting inured running the bases in the third inning. He allowed two runs on three hits, three walks & three strike outs. Manager Dusty Baker brought in Kirk Rueter who pitched 4.1 scoreless innings allowing three hits & then Doug Henry who gave the Giants' 0.2 scoreless innings.

In the top of the inning, Felix Rodriguez came on to pitch. He got the first two outs, then Timo Perez collected his third hit of the night with a base hit to left field. Next, Edgardo Alfonzo blasted a two run HR over Barry Bonds head in left center field, giving the Mets a 4-1 lead. 

Al Leiter started the 9th inning & gave up a leadoff double to Barry Bonds. Bobby Valentine removed Leiter still holding a three-run lead. Through eight innings, Leiter had only allowed one run, on five hits with six strikeouts & three walks.

Once again, the unreliable Armando Benitez came in & the drama began. First, Jeff Kent singled to the hole between short & third base. Bonds remained at second base. 

Benitez then served up a three run HR to J.T. Snow, tying the game 4-4 to the delight of the Bay area fans.

Benitez was able to get the next two outs, but the damage was done, it was a whole new ball game going to extras.

But these Mets didn’t go down so easy either. In the top of the 10th inning, Giants reliever Felix Rodriguez retired Todd Zeile & Robin Ventura. But with two outs, pinch hitter Daryl Hamilton doubled to center field.

Jay Payton then stepped in, driving a single to center field scoring Hamilton with what turned out to be the winning run. The Mets took a 5-4 lead.

In the bottom of the 10th, Armando Benitez gave up a leadoff single to pinch hitter Armando Rios. 

Mets manager Bobby Valentine immediately came out & yanked him, bringing in John Franco. 

The veteran Franco retired first retired pinch hitter; Marvin Bernard who attempted a bunt hit.  He then he got Bill Mueller on a bouncer to Mike Bordick at short. 

The big show down came as slugger Barry Bonds stepped up to the plate. Barry Bonds had hit 34 HRs in 102 games played that season. But Franco struck out Bonds looking, to end the game. 

The Mets won the game 5-4 & went back to New York tied at one game each in the series.