Remembering Mets History (1999) NLDS Game #4: Todd Pratts Dramatic Walk Off HR Clinches Series

Saturday, October 9th, 1999, NLDS Game #5- Shea Stadium, New York. 

This afternoon's matinee playoff game at Shea Stadium was to be the deciding game in the 1999 Division Series. 56,177 Mets fans, packed into Shea Stadium on a chilly Saturday afternoon, for the 3:30 PM start. 

There was certainly excitement in the air as a Mets win would advance them to the NLCS for the first time since 1988. It had been a long wait & a long time coming.

Mets manager, Bobby Valentine juggled 15 different players in his line up throughout the day, only managing to get eight hits out of their bats. 

His teams' biggest bat, Mike Piazza was sidelined again due to an injured thumb. The backup catcher Todd Pratt was inserted in the lineup making his second straight start. Pratt had gone0-2 with two walks in Game #3.

The Mets Al Leiter (13-12 / 4.13 ERA / 162 Ks) got the start against the Diamondbacks Brian Anderson (8-2 / 4.57 ERA). 

All was quiet through the first three innings. John Olerud collected a single in the 1st inning, but Brian Anderson held the Mets down until the 4th.

 In the Mets 4th inning, Edgardo Alfonzo had led off with a HR off Brian Anderson. It was Alfonzo's third HR of the five-game series & his 6th RBI. He & John Olerud would drive in a series best six runs in the NLDS.

Al Leiter would allow a walk in each of the first two innings. 

He then retired eight batters in a row until Greg Colbrunn hit a HR in the top of the 5th inning. The next batter, Steve Finley would single to left field. 

In the home 6th, Rickey Henderson singled to right field. After Edgardo Alfonzo popped up, John Olerud singled to left field, putting runners on the corners. Next, Benny Agbayani doubled to right field bringing in Henderson to put the Mets ahead 2-1.

The game remained that way until the 8th inning. Al Leiter got the first two Arizona outs, then he walked Turner Ward & gave up his third hit, a single to Tony Womack. 

Bobby Valentine came out & removed Leiter to a big Shea ovation. Leiter went 7.2 innings allowing three runs on three hits. He walked three & struck out four.

Armando Benitez came on to pitch. In typical Benitez fashion, he gave up a double to Jay Bell surrendering the Mets lead, as they fell behind 3-2. 

After intentionally walking Luis Gonzales, Benitez gave up a single to left field to Matt Williams. 

In left, Rickey Henderson fielded the ball threw home & Todd Pratt applied the tag nailing Jay Bell at the plate. It was a huge play & turning point of the game.

But the Mets came right back in the home 8th inning. Edgardo Alfonzo walked & John Olerud reached base on a Luis Gonzales error. With the bases loaded, Roger Cedeno then tied it up with a sac fly to center field making it 3-3.

Armando Benitez got through the 9th inning retiring the side in order, while striking out Greg Colburn & Hanley Frias. 

John Franco came on to toss a scoreless 10th inning. He first fanned former Met Kelly Stinnett then got Lenny Harris to ground back to him. Then Tony Womack grounded to Ventura at third for the third out.

Buck Showalter brought in Matt Mantei to pitch the 8th inning, relieving Greg Swindell. He walked two in the 9th inning but got Roger Cedeno to ground out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the 10th. Robin Ventura started out flying out to right field.

Next the backup catcher Todd Pratt who was playing in place of an injured Mike Piazza, came to bat. Pratt had been up twice in the game with runners in scoring position & went hitless both times. 

But here he secured his place in Mets post season history as he blasted a shot to deep centerfield. 

Arizona outfielder Steve Finley leaped to the top of the fence at the classic 410 marker on the Shea wall. He landed on the ground & for a moment no one knew if the catch was made or not. 

Pratt stopped halfway around first base to say a quick prayer & see if Finley had made the catch. The world had stopped for a minute, but it was soon clear Finley had not caught the ball & it was ruled a walk off game / series winning HR. 

The Shea Faithful along with the Mets players went crazy. Pratt leaped in the air, raising his fist as he rounded the bases, then getting mobbed at home plate by his teammates.

Trivia: Todd Pratt became the just fourth MLB player in history at that time, to end a Post Season Series with a walk off HR. 

Pratt became a Mets hero and will always be remembered for hitting one of the most memorable HRs in Mets history. Just when he thought his job as Mike Piazza’s back up was to be an unmemorable experience. 

Pratt had only hit three HRs all year, in 71 games. He had batted a solid .293 with 21 RBIs.

The Mets advanced to the 1999 NLCS to face the Atlanta Braves. They avoided a date in the Arizona desert facing Randy Johnson for a Game #5.  Arizona manager Buck Schowalter was soon fired after the series.