Remembering Mets History (2006) Mike Piazza Returns To Shea Stadium - As A Padre

August 2006: It was an emotional series at Shea Stadium, as this was the first time Mike Piazza returned to Shea Stadium after being grated free agency. 

He returned as a player in a different uniform, after all his fine years in New York. 

Piazza would eventually go into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of the Mets. Next to Tom Seaver, he was the most popular & successful Mets player of all time.

With Piazza aging & the 2006 Mets' team turning in a new direction, he was let go to free agency after the 2005 season. He signed a one-year deal with the San Diego Padres. There he joined former Mets teammate Mike Cameron as well.

There was much fanfare & emotion the night before Piazza big return to New York & as he would play his first game at Shea Stadium as a visitor. 

Tuesday August 8th: 46,167 fans came out to see Mike Piazza's triumphant return to Shea Stadium. In this game Willie Randolph's first place Mets (66-43) sent Steve Trachsel to the mound to face Bruce Bochy's Western division's first place San Diego Padres (67-44) & pitcher Woody Williams.

 

Mike Piazza led off the 2nd inning & was greeted with a standing ovation by the Mets fans. He would strike out against Trachsel. 

The Padres scored first with a two run HR from Geoff Blum. The Mets got a run when Lastings Milledge grounded out with two men on, in the bottom of the 2nd.

In the 3rd inning, Piazza grounded out in his second at bat. In the 6th inning, with two outs, he collected a single off Trachsel,  to the delight of the fans, with another huge ovation. 

David Wright would provide RBI singles in the 3rd inning & the 5th innings as the Mets went on to win the game 3-2 with Piazza going 1-4.

Wednesday August 9th 2006: At this point the Mets were riding high, with a 13 1/2 game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East. 

Willie Randolph's Mets (68-44) would host Bruce Bochy's Padres (58-55) in the second game of the series, in front of 49,979 fans at Shea Stadium. 

The Mets would win the NL East in 2006, then beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. They would lose the NLCS in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals. 

The Padres would also win their division in 2006, but lose in the NLDS to the same St, Louis Cardinals. 

Tonight's starters were Pedro Martinez (8-4) for the Mets & San Diego's Clay Hensley (7-8).

In the home 1st, Jose Reyes led off with a double, Paul Loduca then hit a liner that fell for a single to right field. After Carlos Beltran struck out, Carlos Delgado singled home Reyes for the first run. 

In the 2nd, Reyes singled, scoring Lastings Millidge with the second Met run.

The Mets continued the scoring in the 3rd. With two outs, David Wright doubled. Jose Valentine brought him in with a base hit. The veteran Valentin surprised everyone & stone second. Endy Chavez singled to center bring home Valentine with the 4th run. It was 4-0 Mets.

Martinez, rolled along with a shut out until the top of the 4th inning. 
It was here that Mike Piazza came up with two outs & blasted a HR over the right field wall. 

The Shea fans, respectfully & happily cheered Piazza with a standing ovation as he rounded the bases & crossed the pate. 

The fans did not settle down until Piazza came out for a curtain call.

In his next at bat in the 6th inning, Piazza launched a HR deep into the left field bleachers. 

Once again, he got the standing ovation but there were a few boos mixed in. The HRs were his 17th & 18th on the year. They were also the 5th & 6th HRs in his career off Pedro Martinez. The Mets went on to a 4-3 win.

Piazza would play one season in San Diego batting .283 with 22 HRs 19 doubles & 68 RBIs playing in 126 games. He would play his last season in Oakland in 2007.