October 3 is remembered most by New York Mets fans as the day Pete Alonso brought them back from the dead in the 2024 NLWC round. More than two decades earlier, a practically forgotten regular season win set off some events to create more memorable Mets moments.
Game 162 was taking place at Shea Stadium and their deadlock with the Cincinnati Reds made October 3 a must-win for both teams. The Reds had a rather easy 7-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. The Mets, with Orel Hershiser on the mound, dealt with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
A walk, a sacrifice bunt, a stolen base, and a single gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead in the first. Hershiser stepped up and would only allow one more hit before exiting. Meanwhile, the Mets needed to wait until almost the very end to put them away.
The Mets dominated this game and yet it took them almost to the end to win it
9 hits for the Mets versus just three for the Pirates, it shouldn’t have come down to the bottom of the ninth. They walked 4 times and struck out only 3. Pirates hitters struck out 9 times for an unbalanced game everywhere but the runs scored.
The Mets had plenty of base runners. An error to start the fourth landed John Olerud on second base. He’d advance on a fly ball then a lineout crossed off the second out of the inning. Up stepped Darryl Hamilton who doubled and put the Mets on the board.
In the bottom of the 9th, Bobby Bonilla grounded out to start the inning. Melvin Mora singled and Edgardo Alfonzo did the same, pushing Mora over to third base. Olerud was intentionally walked to give Mike PIazza a chance with the bases loaded. He’d surely, at minimum, hit a deep enough fly ball to score Mora.
The Pirates called upon side-armer Brad Clontz from the bullpen to deal with Piazza. The pomp and circumstance of a pitching change took place and on his first delivery, Clontz bounced one up there. Mora could have walked on his hands home to score the winning run.
The Alonso home run 25 years later was undoubtedly more significant because it was the playoffs. This conclusion was more whacky and memorable in its own quirky way.
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