Remembering Mets History (1993): Jeff Kents Walk Off Double Ends 17 Inning Epic

Wednesday September 29th 1993: There was just four games to go in a horrible season for the New York Mets, in a season where they would finish in last place with only 59 wins. The club was now being managed by Dallas Green who had replaced Jeff Torborg earlier in the year. 

On this night 17,037 still came to see the Mets (55-103) host the third place St. Louis Cardinals (85-73) managed by non other than Joe Torre. Rookie Bobby Jones, who would have a fine career with the Mets, went up against Rheal Cormier.

Starting Lineups

Cardinals

1	Bernard Gilkey	LF
2	Tim Jones	SS
3	Gregg Jefferies	1B
4	Mark Whiten	RF
5	Ray Lankford	CF
6	Stan Royer	3B
7	Geronimo Pena	2B
8	Marc Ronan	C
9	Rheal Cormier	P

Mets

1	Ryan Thompson	CF
2	Kevin Baez	SS
3	Eddie Murray	1B
4	Dave Gallagher	RF
5	Chico Walker	3B
6	Jeff Kent	2B
7	Darrin Jackson	LF
8	Charlie O'Brien	C
9	Bobby Jones	P

This game would be a 17 inning epic, lasting four hours & twenty minutes, one of the longest games of the season.

As mentioned above, Bobby Jones had a good career with the Mets, a member of two post season Mets pitching staff's, who also threw a one hitter in the 2000 NLDS Clincher. On this night early in his career, he threw ten innings of shut out ball, allowing just four hits while striking out nine along the way. The bullpen was just as good, as Jeff Innis & Mauro Gozzo both pitched three shut out innings as well.

Short time hurler, Kenny Greer would pitch the final inning getting the win. This would be the only game Greer would pitch for the Mets & one in just his short nine game career, lasting two seasons.

The Cards would use six pitchers on the night, striking out 14 Mets along the way, with Ryan Thompson striking out five times in his seven at bats. Ryan is part of ten Mets who have accomplished that feat. The Cards gave up just six hits with two walks. 

In the bottom of the 17th, future Hall of Famer Eddie Murray singled to left field to start out the inning. He was sacrificed over by Dave Gallagher. After Chico Walker popped out, Jeff Kent doubled off Les Lancaster bringing in Murray with the lone run of the game. A 1-0 Mets walk off win.

Jeff Kent was a very unpopular player, who put up big numbers. In 1993, his first full season with the Mets he hit 21 HRs with 80 RBIs, third behind Bobby Bonilla & Eddie Murray. In his five years with the Mets he hit 67 HRs with 267 RBIs batting .279.