Remembering Mets Opening Days (2001) Ventura Leads the Reigning N.L. Champs In Atlanta

Tuesday April 3rd, 2001: The 2000 National League Champion, New York Mets opened up the 2001 season on the road in enemy territory, in Atlanta at the height of the Mets Braves rivalry. The Mets had won the wild card the previous year getting to the World Series. The Braves had been the NL Champions in 1999 beating the Mets in the NLCS. The rivalry was intense with some classic moments thru the years. The Mets came into 2001 without much improvement, adding pitcher Kevin Appier & outfielder Tsuyoshi Shingo from Japan. Management made a big mistake, passing up on free agent Alex Rodriguez who signed with Texas. For Opening Day at Turner Field, 42,117 came to see Bobby Cox's Braves host Bobby Valentines New York Mets. The starting pitchers for this matchup would be Al Leiter for the Mets & Tom Glavine for the Braves. In the top of the 1st, Benny Agbayani led off with a walk, but was thrown out at second, trying to steal. Edgardo Alfonzo then doubled into centerfield. A...