Remembering Mets History (2000) Mets Score Ten Runs in 8th Inning To Beat The Atlanta Braves

Friday June 30th, 2000:  A big crowd of 52,831 came out to Shea Stadium to see Bobby Valentines second place New York Mets (45-32) take on the Bobby Cox's first place Atlanta Braves (48-31).

At this point in time, the Mets were just three games behind the Braves after having lost to them the night before. Andres Galarraga's three run HR off Rick Reed was the biggest blow of that game. That broke the Mets seven game win streak. At this point in time, the Mets / Braves rivalry was at its peak.

On this evening, the starters were the Mets Mike Hampton (7-5) as he took the mound against Atlanta's Kevin Millwood (5-6).

In the 1st inning, Hampton was shaky, he gave up two singles. With Andres Galarraga at bat, Mike Piazza was charged with a passed ball & then Hampton hit him with a pitch to load up the bases. He then walked Javy Lopez & it was 1-0 Braves. Hampton stopped any further damage by getting Bobby Bonilla to ground into a double play.

In the 3rd, the Braves got two more lead off singles. Hampton then walked Galarraga again. Javy Lopez singled to left, bringing in two runs, as a Mike Piazza error allowed Andru Jones to score & it was 4-0 Braves.

In the 7th Millwood got Robin Ventura to pop out. But Todd Zeile & Jay Payton both singled. After Benny Agbayani went down on strikes, pinch hitter Matt Franco delivered a base hit putting the Mets on the board.

Overall, Mike Hampton lasted seven innings, giving up five runs on nine hits & six walks. In the 8th short time Met, Eric Cammack, served up a three HR to Brian Jordan, making it 8-1 Braves, things looked terrible. Cammack made just eight appearances for the 2000 Mets & in his MLB career.

In the home 8th, Don Wengert, a journeyman pitcher who would just pitch ten games for the 2000 Braves, was on the mound. 

Derek Bell & Mike Piazza both singled. With one out Robin Ventura grounded out to second base for the second out but Derek Bell scored with the Mets second run. 

Then an amazing two out rally led to the Mets scoring nine more runs, which resulted in a club record at that time, ten run inning. They would send 13 men to the plate, collect six hits & draw four walks in the inning.

Now, Todd Zeile singled, to drive in Piazza with the third run. Next Jay Payton singled, then
Benny Agbayani walked. 

Kelly Ligtenberg was brought in as the new Braves pitcher. With the bases loaded, he walked Mark Johnson & Melvin Mora putting the score to 8-5. Joe McEwing came into run for Johnson.

Bobby Cox quickly yanked Ligtenberg & brought in Terry Mulholland. He then walked Derek Bell and it was an 8-6 game. As the Mets fans were going wild at Shea sensing a great comeback.

Next Edgardo Alfonzo singled, bringing in McEwing & Mora to tie up the game at eight. The crowd were on their feet as the Mets MVP-Mike Piazza came up to bat. 

Piazza delivered again, as he blasted a three run HR over the wall, bringing Shea Stadium to bedlam, capping off the record setting inning with what turned out to be the winning runs.

Armando Benitez closed out the 9th & got credited with the win (2-3) moving the Mets within two games of first place. The next night; Al Leiter improved to 10-1, as he combined with Turk Wendell on a six hit 9-1 Mets victory, bringing New York within a game of Atlanta.