Remembering Mets History (2001) Robin Ventura & Mike Piazza Have Back-to-Back Walk Off HR Games

Saturday July 28th, 2001: Bobby Valentines Mets were still reigning NL Champions but certainly not living up to the title.

The Mets were lingering in fourth place through most of July. They would make a slight run but only move up to third place at their best in 2001. 

In the off season after their pennant season, the Mets did not make any big signings except pitcher Kevin Appier, which did not work out.

At 48-57 the Mets were in fourth place eleven games behind the Atlanta Braves. A good crowd of 38,972 came out to support the Mets as they hosted Larry Bowa's second place Philadelphia Phillies (57-47).

A matchup of Al Leiter going up against Omar Daal. Daal who led the NL with 19 losses in 2000 would have his best year going 13-7 in 2001.

In the home 1st, New York got a double from Todd Zeile & then Mike Piazza walked. Jay Payton & Benny Agbayani singled bringing home runs making it 2-0 Mets. In the 4th Agbayani led off with a solo HR, his fifth of the year making it 3-0 Mets. 

Al Leiter held the 3-0 lead until the 6th inning, Tomas Perez homered & then former Met, Todd Pratt & Brian Hunter singled. Doug Glanville doubled home another run making a 3-2 game.

In the 7th, Bobby Valentine brought in Jerrod Riggan to pitch for the Mets. Leiter went ix innings giving up the two runs, on ten hits, striking out five.

Riggan gave up a one out double to Bobby Abreu & then Abreu stole third. Pat Burrell hit a line drive to right field, but Joe McEwing couldn't handle it, that allowed Abreu to score the tying run.

John Franco & Armando Benitez got the Mets to the 9th inning. A familiar face, Turk Wendell came on to pitch for the Phillies. He was greeted in the bottom of the 9th by his old friend Robin Ventura, hitting a walk off HR. It was Ventura's first walk off since the famous Grand slam single in the 1999 NLCS.

Sunday July 29th, 2001: On this afternoon, the Phillies got another dose of Mets Walk offs. 

The starters for today's game would be Nelson Figueroa (2-2) for the Phillies & Kevin Appier (5-10) for New York. The Kevin Appier signing was a big disappointment for the Mets, as he went 11-10 with a 3,57 ERA in his one season with the Mets. He would go to the Anaheim Angels in the Mo Vaughn deal at the end of the season.

In the 1st inning, Desi Relaford singled and came home on Mike Piazza's double. It was big day for Mike Piazza, as he would have three hits with three RBIs. 

The hero of yesterday's game, Robin Ventura followed with an RBI single making it 2-0. 

The Phillies, Bobby Abreu's two run HR tied it up in the 4th.

In the 7th, Mets pinch hitter Lenny Harris walked & Desi Relaford singled advancing Lenny Harris. Piazza grounded out but Lenny Harris scored the Mets third run 3-2. 

The Phillies answered in the 8th, Jimmy Rollins singled to center & then Scott Rolen hit a two run HR off John Franco putting the Phils up 5-4.

In the 8th of this crazy game, Jay Payton led off with a base hit off Jose Santiago. Tsuyoshi Shinjo hit a two run HR gave the Mets a 5-4 lead. It was Shinjo's sixth HR of the year.

In the 9th, Armando Benitez couldn't hold the lead once again, blowing the save opportunity. He walked the leadoff man Kevin Jordan & gave up a base hit to Johnny Estrada, advancing Jordan to third. Brian Hunter's sac fly scored Kevin Jordan tying it up once again, it was now 4-4.

In the bottom of the 9th Mike Piazza finally ended the game hitting a walk off HR off reliever Rheal Cormier.

It was Piazza's 15th HR of the year. He would hit 36 HRs in 2001, in an eight year stretch where he hit 30 or more HRs each year, hitting 40 twice in that stretch.

Trivia: Mike Piazza would have four walk off HRs in Mets career & six walk off game winning RBIs.