Mets 12 Expos 6
MONTREAL – The Mets’ 12-6 win over the Expos was like a short film version of this movie-like season. A terrible start followed by an unbelievable ending.
The result of the incredible flourish last night and at the end of this year is that the Mets are heading into the biggest series of the season, tonight in Atlanta, just three games back of the Braves and two of the Phillies with nine games remaining.
Atlanta and Philadelphia both lost last night.
The Mets might have destiny and definitely have momentum on their side.
“I think we have as much as we can have,” Todd Zeile said.
The final score makes last night look easy, but it wasn’t. The Mets fell behind 6-2 when ineffective starter Bruce Chen was allowed to stay in the game too long.
While five relievers shut out the Expos, the Mets pounded a season-high 19 hits and a team-record 10 doubles in their incredible comeback.
After scoring two in the sixth and one in the seventh, Desi Relaford smacked a two-run, go-ahead homer in the eighth to make it 7-6.
“That helps the momentum,” Relaford said. “We know we have a chance. It’s real.”
The 6,968 who attended what might have been the last Expo game must not have believed what they saw. It was a capsule version of the Mets’ season.
The capper to the short film came in the form of a Mike Piazza cameo in the ninth inning.
Piazza didn’t start because of his bruised right thumb. It progressed so well during the game, he pinch-hit with the bases loaded against lefty Graeme Lloyd. Piazza smacked a three-run double.
The Mets tacked on another two runs, including a Relaford RBI double. Relaford had two doubles, the homer and three RBIs in his four at-bats.
“It sure is exciting,” said Bobby Valentine, who was ejected for arguing strikes in the seventh. “For all that was said in May, June, July and August, that when we go (to Atlanta) it won’t mean anything, those words don’t mean anything.”
The only thing that matters are the numbers. The Mets have won 25 of 31. They are a different team, maybe destiny’s team.
“Early in the season, if we were down by four (runs), it’s pretty much over,” Relaford said.
In the sixth the Mets made their comeback in earnest. Valentine slightly made up for his error of leaving Chen in too long. After a Zeile two-out single, Jay Payton smashed his second double of the game to put runners on second and third.
Valentine put up Mark Johnson to pinch-hit for Vance Wilson. This move worked perfectly as Johnson smashed an RBI single into the left center field gap, scoring two, cutting the lead to 6-4.
In the seventh, Relaford, a double, and Matt Lawton, a single, forced reliever Scott Stewart out of the game. In came Britt Reames. After Edgardo Alfonzo popped out, Robin Ventura walked to load the bases and set up the ultra clutch Tsuyoshi Shinjo.
Shinjo knocked an RBI single through the hole on the left side. Down a run, Zeile stepped up with the bases loaded. He struck out looking and then was tossed for arguing.
When Valentine followed, he too was shown the door.