Remembering Mets History (2006) NLCS - Mets Take it To Game Seven But Fall Short of World Series

Thursday October 12th, 2006- NLCS Game #1- Shea Stadium, New York: The 2006 New York Mets (97-65) were in first place for most regular season, winning the Eastern Divisional title rather easily. Manager Willie Randolph brought the Mets to their first post season in six years, with one of the most potent Mets offenses since the 1980's.

The Mets were coming into the series with pitching issues, as Pedro Martinez & Orlando Hernandez were both injured. 

The Mets opponents were an old rival, Tony LaRussa's St. Louis' Cardinals (83-78).

 After a rain out the previous night, the series began a day later. A sold-out Shea Stadium, with a paid crowd of 56,311 hosted Game #1 of the NLCS as former Met Darryl Strawberry threw out the ceremonial first pitch to get things going. centerfieldmaz was in attendance on this night as well.

The Mets Tom Glavine (15-7 / 3.82 ERA / 131 Ks) went up against St. Louis' Jeff Weaver (8-14 / 5.76 ERA / 107 Ks). 

Tom Glavine fresh off a Game #2 victory over the Dodgers, continued his 2006 post season shutout innings streak. After shutting out Los Angeles for six innings, Glavine would blank the Cardinals thru seven innings putting in another fine performance.  

On the night he shut out the Cardinals for seven innings, allowing just four hits. He struck out two & walked two on the night. He did not allow a Cardinal base runner to even reach as far as third base.

Jeff Weaver would hold down the Mets for five innings as well. In the bottom of the 6th, he retired Tom Glavine & Jose Reyes, then with two outs, Paul Loduca singled to left field. 

Carlos Beltran, who had 41 regular season HRs, blasted a long shot over the right center field fence giving the Mets all they needed to take the opener 2-0.

In the top of the 8th Mets reliever Guillermo Mota walked David Eckstein with two outs but got Preston Wilson to pop up to end the inning. In the 9th, Billy Wagner came on for the save in the sealing the victory.

_________

In Game #2, The Mets started out with a 3-0 lead as Carlos Delgado hit a 1st inning three run HR off Chris Carpenter. In the 5th inning Delgado hit a second HR, a solo shot also off Carpenter. But the Cards got three runs off Mets starter, John Maine, a two run double by Yadier Molina & a solo HR by Jim Edmonds. RBI hits from Jose Reyes & Paul LoDuca put New York up 6-4.

But tonight, the Mets bullpen had problems. In the 7th Guillermo Mota blew the leaf giving up a single, a walk then a two-run triple to Scott Spiezio tying up the game. In the 9th Billy Wagner gave up a HR to So Taguchi, them two more runs as the Mets took a 9-6 loss evening up the series heading to St. Louis.

In Game #3 at Busch Stadium, Jeff Suppan shut out the Mets for eight innings, allowing just three hits. Josh Kinney finished the shut out in the 9th as Steve Trachsel gave up five runs, including a HR to Suppan, taking the loss. It was on this night it appeared Trachsel had given up on his team & lost their support, after six seasons, it would be his last game in a Mets uniform.

Sunday October 15th, 2006, NLCS Game #4 - Busch Stadium, St. Louis Missouri. With the Mets down in the series two games to one, there was some concern. Their bats were asleep & needed to be woken up fast. 

With two of his starters down, Willie Randolph sent Oliver Perez (3-13 / 6.55 ERA) to the mound to face St. Louis' Anthony Reyes (5-8 / 5.06 ERA / 72 Ks). 

Oliver Perez had come over to the Mets late in the season after Duaner Sanchez went down for the season, after being injured in a taxicab car accident. He was brought in along with Roberto Hernandez in exchange for Xavier Nady.
                  

After a scoreless 1st, the Mets nemesis, Yadier Molina put St. Louis ahead 1-0 with an RBI single. 

In the top of the 3rd, the Mets bats woke up. Carlos Beltran hit his second HR of the series, as he & David Wright both hit solo shots putting the Mets up 2-1.

Five RBI Night: Carlos Delgado would have a big night, hitting his third HR of the series & collecting five RBIs. In the top of the 5th, Paul LoDuca reached on an error & Carlos Beltran singled. Carlos Delgado then hit a three run HR putting the Mets up 5-2.

Later, in the top of the 6th inning, Jose Reyes & Paul LoDuca both singled. Josh Hancock then walked Carlos Beltran to load the bases. Delgado then hit a ground rule double scoring Reyes & LoDuca putting the Mets up 7-3.

After David Wright walked, Tyler Johnson came on to pitch for the Cardinals. Sean Green singled to left bringing in Beltran. Then Jose Valentin hit a bases clearing, three run double giving the Mets an 11-3 lead. 

Multi HR Game: Carlos Beltran also had a big night, in the top of the 7th, he blasted his second HR of the night, a solo shot off Braden Looper capping off the 12-5 win. Beltran collected three hits on the night, with two HRs, two walks, two RBIs & four runs scored.

As for Mets pitching, Oliver Perez gave up five runs on nine hits thru 5.2 innings. But Cad Bradford, Pedro Feliciano & Guillermo Mota shut out the Cards the rest of the way evening the series at two games each.

Game #5 had to be postponed another day as rain forced the second rain out of the series. 

The next night, Jeff Weaver & the Cards edged the Mets 4-2, as Tom Glavine took his first loss of
this post season. In the top of the 4th, Jose Valentin collected a two run double putting the Mets up 2-0. For Valentin in was his second double & fifth RBIs of the series.

In the bottom of the 4th, Albert Pujols hit a solo HR, then Glavine issued two walks & gave up an RBI hit to Ronnie Belliard tying the game. In the bottom of the 5th, David Eckstein singled & Preston Wilson brought him in with a double to right field. In the 6th, Chris Duncan added a solo HR off Pedro Feliciano.

 

Wednesday October 18th, 2006 NLCS Game #6- Shea Stadium, New York. After the rainout to start the series, there had been no off day until now. It was back to New York as the Mets found themselves down three games to two, on the verge of elimination.

The Mets fans stood by their team, giving them a support of excitement as 56,334 filled up Shea Stadium, with centerfieldmaz in attendance again, for Game #6.

Mets manager Wille Randolph sent John Maine (6-5 / 3.60 / 71 Ks) to the mound against the Cardinals ace, Chris Carpenter (15-8 / 3.09 / 184 Ks). It was a big spot for the young John Maine in a rematch of Game #2 starters & the season on the line.

Actor Matt Dillon threw out the ceremonial first pitch as things got underway.

In the bottom of the 1st inning, Jose Reyes got things started with a lead off HR. 

In the bottom of the 4th inning, Carlos Beltran & David Wright both reached with base hits. Sean Green then singled into centerfield bringing in the Mets second run.

For John Maine, it was one of his biggest nights as he shined in the spotlight, stepping up the big task. He shut out the Cardinals into the 6th inning, holding them to just two hits although he did walk four. Maine also struck out five on the night. 

He was relieved by Chad Bradford who ended the inning. He gave up a leadoff single in the 7th, then got Yadier Molina to fly out. Willie Randolph brought in Guillermo Mota, who got Chris Duncan to hit into an inning ending double play.

After a lively 7th inning stretch, the Shea crowd let former Mets reliever, Braden Looper, have it as he entered the game. After Looper got the first two outs, pinch hitter Michael Tucker singled & stole second. 

Jose Reyes followed with a base hit & then both runners took off on a successful double steal. Paul Loduca singled to center field, bringing in both runners making it 4-0 Mets.

Aaron Heilman got through the 8th inning but in the 9th, Billy Wagner struggled again. Wagner who had 40 saves in the regular season, gave up three hits including a two run double to So Taguchi. But he got the final out as David Eckstein grounded to Jose Valentin.

The Mets evened up the series & it was all up to a Game Seven.

Thursday October 19th, 2006 NLCS Game #7: Ron Darling threw out the ceremonial first pitch & Glen Close sang the National Anthem as the 2006 season all game down to one final game. 

With former Mets players & celebrities alike attending the series at Shea, like Ron Howard, Mathew Broderick, Patriots Coach Bill Belichick, Lorraine Bracco, Hilary Swank, Matt Dillon, Joseph Gannascoli, Tim Robbins, singers Aaron Neville, Linda Eders, Constantine Maroulis & Michael Amante, as well as Mayor Bloomberg, even Donald & Melania Trump were at Shea for this one.

Mets Manager had to give the ball to Oliver Perez for the big game. With Pedro Martinez one his top pitchers still injured with his arm still in a sling, veteran Orlando Hernandez also injured & everyone else having pitched there were no other options. 

Perez stepped up & pitched well, allowing just a run through six innings. Jeff Suppan who had shut out New York for eight innings in Game #3 got the start for St. Louis.

In the 1st inning, Carlos Beltran doubled & Carlos Delgado walked. David Wright then singled giving the Mets a 1-0 lead. In the 2nd, singled by Ji Edmonds & Yadier Molina put two on for the Cards. Ronnie Beliard laid down a bunt scoring Edmonds to tie the game.

Endy Chavez Amazing Catch: In the 6th inning, the game was highlighted (for New York) by Endy Chavez robbing a HR from Scott Rolen, as he leaped up snagging the ball over the wall. It was one of the greatest over the fence catches in post season & Mets history.

The score remained tied in the 1-1 nail bitter until the 8th inning. Mets reliever, Aaron Heilman, then served up a devastating two run HR to Yadier Molina. Molina had hit just .216 with 6 HRs on the regular season but hit .348 with 2 HRs & 6 RBIs in the NLCS.

In the bottom of the 9th, the Mets did threaten. Jose Valentin & Endy Chavez both reached with base hits off Adam Wainwright. But ten Wainwright struck out Cliff Floyd & Jose Reyes lined out. Paul Loduca then drew a walk to load the bases.  

But then Wainwright got Carlos Beltran to look at a curveball with the bat on his shoulder for the third strike & final out of the game. 

It was shockingly all over. A season at looked like it was sure to be a championship one ended at the NLCS.

Trivia: In the NLCS Carlos Beltran hit .296 with eight hirs, three HRs a double & four RBIs. He also drew four walks & had 95 walks in the regular season (10th most in the NL).