Remembering Mets History: (1997) Todd Hundley's Has Three Multi HR Games Where He Drives in Five Runs

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In Todd Hundley's 1997 season he had three different games in where he hit three HRs & drove in five runs. 

 For 1997 Hundley hit 30 HRs (eleven less than his record setting 1996 campaign) batted .273 with 21 doubles & 86 RBIs (16 less than the previous year). Overall he played in 132 games twenty one less than 1996. For the second straight year he represented the Mets in the All Star Game.

 April 23rd 1997: Today Bobby Valentine's Mets (8-12) hosted Ray Knight's Cincinnati Reds (6-14) in front of 26,492 fans at Shea Stadium. With the Mets down 1-0 in the 1st inning Hundley put the Mets ahead with a two run HR off Red pitcher Mike Morgan. 

In the 3rd inning, John Olerud doubled in Edgardo Alfonzo to tie the game. Hundley drove in his third run of the day, with a base hit up the middle. Bernard Gilkey & Carl Everett also added RBI hits in the Mets five run inning.

 In the 6th inning Hundley added to his big day, driving a two run HR off Kevin Jarvis bringing in the Mets ninth & tenth runs of the day capping off their 10-2 victory.  Hundley had three hits, two HRs five RBIs & three runs scored. Mark Clark earned his second win of the year.

 Two weeks later on Monday May 5th, the Mets (15-16) were in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado taking on Don Baylor's first place Rockies (20-9). A huge crowd of 48,036 filled Cooors Field to see Kevin Ritz take on the Mets Bobby Jones.

Jones allowed one run in seven innings & good relief efforts from Greg McMichael & Takashi Kashiwada sealed the 6-1 win.

 Todd Hundley took advantage of the Colorado air hitting a three run HR in the 3rd inning & a solo shot in the 8th, his 9th HR early on in the season. Hundley also hit an RBI double in the 5th inning.  On this night Hundley had four hits with two HRs & five RBIs.

Sunday July 20th: A nice Sunday crowd of 36,259 came out to see a rejuvenated Mets team (55-42) under manager Bobby Valentine. At this point the Mets were just 6 1/2 games back & in third place, playing better than they had in years.

 The Mets once again hosted the Reds under Ray Knight. Good starting pitching from Dave Mlicki (7 innings one run five hits & four Ks) led to Takashida & Corey Lidle closing it out. The Mets won 10-1 led bt Todd Hundley.

 Hundley started out Mets scoring with a1st inning RBI double. In the 3rd he led off with a solo HR & then in the 6th blasted a three run shot, his 22nd of the year. It was another four hit, multi HR five RBI game for Hundley.

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