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A surprise ending generated one of the Mets’ most memorable happy recaps on April 24, 2007. After nine scoreless innings, Colorado took a 1–0 lead in the top of the 10th off Billy Wagner. In the bottom of the frame, Rockies closer Brian Fuentes dispatched Shawn Green and Jose Valentin on four pitches and quickly went 0–2 on pinch hitter Damion Easley. Then ball one, ball two, and…boom—tie game.
In the bottom of the 12th, with two outs and runners on second and third, Endy Chavez executed a textbook drag bunt just beyond the sprawling grasp of pitcher Randy Speier for a walk-off single.
Game Facts: Endy’s RBI gave rookie Joe Smith his first major league win. Over the first 11 innings, the Mets had gone 0-for–10 with runners in scoring position. Before surrendering the home run to Easley, Fuentes had retired 22 of his previous 23 batters going back to April 9. Mets starter Orlando Hernandez held the Rockies scoreless on four hits over the first seven innings.
Other Game of Note
Just one year ago today, the Mets spoiled Jose Reyes’s return to New York by defeating his new team, the Miami Marlins, 2–1. Reyes went 0-for–4 as Johan Santana and a trio of relievers limited their opponents to only three hits.
Birthdays
Happy 36th birthday to Carlos Beltran, who the Mets traded to the Giants for Zack Wheeler. Wheeler is struggling at AAA Las Vegas. Blame Beltran.
Right-hander Pat Zachry, turning 61 today, had a lot to live up to, being the only pitcher the Mets got from the Reds in the Tom Seaver trade, but in six years in New York he posted a mediocre 1.4 WHIP, 1.3 K/BB, and 7.3 WAR. On his 27th birthday he went on the disabled list with an inflamed ulnar nerve in his right elbow, a condition that would plague him throughout his Mets career.
Amazin’-ly Tenuous Connection
The Durham Tobacconists played their first pro game on this date in 1902. Renamed the Bulls a decade later, and destined to be immortalized in one of the best baseball movies ever made, the Carolina League franchise became a Mets affiliate in 1967. The best known of the eight once or future Mets on that team were right-hander Danny Frisella and Bobby Valentine’s hitting coach Tom Robson. In 1968, the renamed Raleigh-Durham Mets (the Bulls having merged with the Raleigh Pirates) would be an early proving ground for the likes of Jon Matlack, Ken Singleton, Leroy Stanton, Jerry Morales, Ted Martinez, and Mike Jorgensen.
