Remembering Mets History (1999) Robin Ventura Becomes the First Player To Hit Grand Slams In Both Ends Of A Double Header
The Brewers joined the National League in 1998 after 27 years of American League baseball.
The starting pitchers in the first game of the twin bill, were Al Leiter & Jim Abbot. Both were to be the pitchers of record, but neither one had a great outing.
The game turned into a huge hit & run explosion with an 11-10 Mets win. The Mets had 13 hits in the game with the Brew Crew collecting 12 hits of their own in the 25-hit barrage.
In the 5th, Mike Piazza & Edgardo Alfonzo both singled, knocking Abbott out of the game. Steve Faltesek came in & got Ventura to fly out. Benny Agbayani then blasted a three run HR giving the Mets an 8-6 lead.
In the second game a Bobby Valentine favorite, Masato Yoshi took the mound against Milwaukee's Steve Woodward. This one was a real Mets Blowout as New York scored ten runs on twelve hits, knocking out Steve Woodward in the 4th inning.
The Mets scored early, in the home 2nd inning Robin Ventura continued his big day, leading off with a double. Then Brian McRae doubled bringing in Ventura & putting the Mets on the board 1-0. Luis Lopez singled driving in McRae for a 2-0 Mets lead.
In the 3rd, the Mets Roger Cedeno singled, advanced to second & scored on a John Olerud's double making it 3-0.
In the 4th inning, Benny Agbayani tripled & was brought in by Luis Lopez who doubled. Roger Cedeno then singled again bringing in Lopez to put the Mets ahead 5-0.
The Mets big 4th inning continued, as Cedeno stole second & third base as well. Edgardo Alfonzo walked & John Olerud was hit by a pitch to fill the bases again. With the bases loaded, Robin Ventura stepped in a familiar spot. The Brewers changed pitchers as manager, Phil Garner gave Horatio Estrada the ball.
Robin Ventura greeted him with a long blast, sailing a HR down the right field line. It stayed fair and was certainly gone, for Ventura's second grand slam of the day. Ventura became the first player in MLB history to hit grand slams in both ends of a double header.
The starting pitchers in the first game of the twin bill, were Al Leiter & Jim Abbot. Both were to be the pitchers of record, but neither one had a great outing.
The game turned into a huge hit & run explosion with an 11-10 Mets win. The Mets had 13 hits in the game with the Brew Crew collecting 12 hits of their own in the 25-hit barrage.
In the bottom of the 1st, John Olerud & Edgardo Alfonzo both drew walks off pitcher Jim Abbott. Mike Piazza then got an infield single to load the bases. Now Robin Ventura began his historic night as he blasted a grand slam HR off, making it a 4-0 Mets lead.
In the 4th the Brewers came back, Ronnie Belliard singled & was mover over with a bunt. Lou Collier doubled in the first Brewer run. Three straight singles by Jeff Cirillo, Jeromy Burnitz & Marquis Grisson made it a 4-3 game.
They tied it up in the 4th, when Al Leiter walked Alex Ochoa. Belliard then singled & an Al Leiter error on Jim Abbot's bunt, caused Ochoa to score. The game was tied 4-4.
In the bottom of the 4th, Benny Agbayani singled & advanced o a wild pitch. Rey Ordonez then walked, when Al Leiter bunted, an error on Abbot caused Agbayani to score, giving the Mets the lead.
But the Brewers came right back, when Jeff Cirillo singled, Leiter hit Burnitz with a pitch &
Ochoa doubled to give Milwaukee the lead.
Ochoa doubled to give Milwaukee the lead.
In the 6th Mike Piazza added a two-run shot, his 7th of the season, after Jon Olerud had singled., making it 10-6. In the 7th, Agbayani hit his second HR of the day, making a 11-6 game.
Mets reliever Allen Watson gave up a two run HR to Cirillo & then later John Franco allowed a 9th inning run, but the Mets took the first game of the twin bill 11-9.
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In the second game a Bobby Valentine favorite, Masato Yoshi took the mound against Milwaukee's Steve Woodward. This one was a real Mets Blowout as New York scored ten runs on twelve hits, knocking out Steve Woodward in the 4th inning.The Mets scored early, in the home 2nd inning Robin Ventura continued his big day, leading off with a double. Then Brian McRae doubled bringing in Ventura & putting the Mets on the board 1-0. Luis Lopez singled driving in McRae for a 2-0 Mets lead.
In the 3rd, the Mets Roger Cedeno singled, advanced to second & scored on a John Olerud's double making it 3-0.
In the 4th inning, Benny Agbayani tripled & was brought in by Luis Lopez who doubled. Roger Cedeno then singled again bringing in Lopez to put the Mets ahead 5-0.
The Mets big 4th inning continued, as Cedeno stole second & third base as well. Edgardo Alfonzo walked & John Olerud was hit by a pitch to fill the bases again. With the bases loaded, Robin Ventura stepped in a familiar spot. The Brewers changed pitchers as manager, Phil Garner gave Horatio Estrada the ball.
Robin Ventura greeted him with a long blast, sailing a HR down the right field line. It stayed fair and was certainly gone, for Ventura's second grand slam of the day. Ventura became the first player in MLB history to hit grand slams in both ends of a double header.It was Ventura's 8th HR of the year, taking the Mets team lead at that point from Mike Piazza. This put the Mets ahead 9-0 & they cruised to a 10-1 victory from there.
Yoshi got the win, pitching seven innings, allowing a run on eight hits, striking out four with two walks. Rigo Beltran came on for two scoreless innings to close it out.
Trivia: In his career Robin Ventura is tied for sixth place with The San Francisco Giants Willie McCovey, on the All-Time grand slam HR list with 18.
Trivia: In his career Robin Ventura is tied for sixth place with The San Francisco Giants Willie McCovey, on the All-Time grand slam HR list with 18.
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