Remembering Mets History (2000) NLDS Game #4: Bobby Jones Tosses One Hitter as Mets Advance to Thier Second Straight NLCS
Sunday, October 8th, 2000- NLDS Game #4: 56,245 fans packed Shea Stadium on this Sunday evening, hoping to see the Mets advance to the NLCS. Tonight, they would witness one of the best post seasons pitching performances in Mets history. The Mets have always been a strong pitching organization. The club has seen just two no hitters & forty-one hitters thrown by Mets pitchers. The names Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Dwight Gooden, Jerry Koosman, Ron Darling, Tug McGraw have all pitched great post season games.
In 1973 Jon Matlack had tossed a two hitter in the NLCS against the Cincinnati Reds, but on this night a lesser-known name, Bobby Jones would throw the only one hitter in Mets post season history.
When Bobby Valentine named him as the starter, he was criticized for his decision.
Bobby went with Bobby Jones (11-6 / 5.06 ERA / 85 Ks) to have his first ever post season start for Game #4. Giants' manager Dusty Baker went with Mark Gardner (11-7 / 4.05 ERA / 92 Ks) in a do or die game for San Francisco.
Bobby Jones started out the game getting Marvin Bernard to fly out, then Bill Mueller grounded
to Edgardo Alfonso at second. He ended the 1st inning striking out Barry Bonds.
Bobby Jones retired the first twelve Giants batters.
In the home 5th inning, Bobby Jones struck out but reached first base as the third strike got past Doug Mirabelli.
In the bottom of the 8th, Benny Agbayani doubled, for his fifth hit of the series. He had now hit safely in fi straight post season games & reached safely in six straight dating back to last season. The Mets also had Mike Bordick reach base after getting hit by a pitch from Miguel Del Toro. But they did not score as Bobby Jones struck out ending the inning.
Bobby went with Bobby Jones (11-6 / 5.06 ERA / 85 Ks) to have his first ever post season start for Game #4. Giants' manager Dusty Baker went with Mark Gardner (11-7 / 4.05 ERA / 92 Ks) in a do or die game for San Francisco.
to Edgardo Alfonso at second. He ended the 1st inning striking out Barry Bonds.
For the Mets, their big bats put them on the board right away. In the 1st inning, after Timo Perez went down swinging & Edgardo Alfonzo flew out. Mike Piazza drew a two out walk. Robin Ventura followed with a two run HR over the right center field fence giving the Mets the 2-0 lead. It was his first HR & his first two RBIs of the post season.
On the mound, Bobby Jones rolled along; in the 3rd inning he struck out Doug Mirabelli & Mark Gardner. In the top of the 4th, he struck out Barry Bonds for the second time in the game.
Trivia: Bonds struck out four times in the four-game series, twice against Jones & twice in the 9th inning facing John Franco.
Then in the top of the 5th, Jeff Kent led off with a double to left field. It was to the only hit Jones would give up all day.
Next, Ellis Burks flew out to right for the first out. Jones then issued a walk to J.T. Snow & another to Doug Mirabelli loading the bases.
It was the only time the Giants would have runners in scoring position in the entire game.
Giants Manager, Dusty Baker chose to stick with his pitcher rather than go with a pinch hitter. Bobby Jones got Mark Gardner to pop out to end the inning. The Giants would not get another base runner the rest of the way.
Timo Perez followed with a double to right field, his fifth hit of the series. Next Edgardo Alfonzo doubled to center, scoring both Jones & Perez to give the Mets a 4-0 lead that they would never surrender.
Trivia: Edgardo Alfonzo collected his fifth hit of the series & his fifth RBI as well. Alfonzo had a driven in a run in three straight NLDS games & had a six-game post season hit streak dating back to last season.
Bobby Jones shut down the Giants over the next four innings. In the top of the 6th, he struck out Marvin Bernard then got fly ball outs to Bill Mueller & Barry Bonds. In the 7th Jones got Jeff Kent & JT Snow to ground out & Burks to fly out.
Bobby Jones shut down the Giants over the next four innings. In the top of the 6th, he struck out Marvin Bernard then got fly ball outs to Bill Mueller & Barry Bonds. In the 7th Jones got Jeff Kent & JT Snow to ground out & Burks to fly out.
In the top of the 8th, Rich Aurilla flew out to Timo Perez in right field for the first out. Then Giants manager Dusty Baker sent up two pinch hitters First Felipe Crespo flew out to left field for the second out. Then, Russ Davis popped up to Todd Zeile at first base for the third out.
In the bottom of the 8th, Benny Agbayani doubled, for his fifth hit of the series. He had now hit safely in fi straight post season games & reached safely in six straight dating back to last season. The Mets also had Mike Bordick reach base after getting hit by a pitch from Miguel Del Toro. But they did not score as Bobby Jones struck out ending the inning.The excited Shea fans were on all on their feet for the 9th inning. Booby Jones got the first out when Marvin Benard grounded out to first base, Bill Mueller then grounded out to Alfonzo for out number two.
The big bat of Barry Bonds was next. The Shea fans had been booing Bonds every time he came to bat or made a catch on the field. Jones got Bonds to line out to center field to end the game.
The Mets advanced to their second consecutive NLCS as the right-handed Bobby Jones completed his one hit masterpiece. In his 116-pitch night, he struck out five Giants & walked two over the nine-inning complete game shutout.
Mets Trivia: Jones became just the second Mets pitcher to throw a shut out in the post season. In 1973 Jon Matlack pitched a two-hit shut over the Reds in Cincinnati.
Quotes-Bobby Jones: "After all I went through in the beginning of the season, to battle back & do something in the post season, it meant a lot".
Quotes- Al Leiter: "I'm so happy for Bobby Jones. I'm so proud of him. To go out & pitch the best game of his life & dismiss all the critics who thought it was a bad decision, he went out & nailed it".
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