OTD 1998: Piazza Homers, Mets Win Thriller In Houston
The 1998 season was an interesting, though ultimately disappointing, one for the New York Mets. They acquired future Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza and were in the National League’s Wild Card race until the last day of the season. On September 16, 1998, the Mets and Astros engaged in an exciting extra-inning game at the Astrodome, with Mets coming out on top.
Bobby Jones made the start against future Met Mike Hampton, who took the mound for Houston. Former Met Carl Everett opened the scoring with the two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning. The score remained 2-0 until the ninth, when Piazza stepped into the batter’s box against Astros closer (and future Met) Billy Wagner.
Todd Pratt opened the inning for New York with a single and advanced to second base on a single by John Olerud. However, when Olerud singled, there were two outs, and the Mets, 85-68 coming into the game, now had their fate in the hands of their midseason addition in Piazza.
Wagner and Piazza battled to a 2-2 count, when Piazza got a belt-high fastball over the outside corner that he could handle. The Norristown, PA native did what he did so well throughout his career. He drove it over the right-center field fence to give the Mets a 3-2 lead. You can see the home run, and hear Howie Rose’s enthusiastic call, in the video below.
The game was not over, though, which is something we know very well from the 2021 season. The Mets brought Dennis Cook in to pitch the bottom of the ninth. Cook got the first out, but then Astros catcher Brad Ausmus drilled a home run to tie the score. The game moved to extra innings.
Neither team scored in the 10th. Mets pitcher Greg McMichael danced through the raindrops in the bottom of the frame, getting out of a bases-loaded jam. Sean Bergman came on to pitch for the Astros in the 11th inning. He got the first two outs before pinch-hitter Todd Hundley took a turn at bat. Hundley, who two years prior had set New York’s franchise record for most home runs in a single season, blasted a home run to give the Mets a 4-3 lead.
Turk Wendell got the save opportunity and struck out the side in the bottom of the 11th to lock down the win. The Mets ended up winning three of four games in Houston against an Astros team that won its division with a 102-60 record.
The 1998 season would not end well for the Mets. They were tied for the sole wild-card slot in the playoffs with the Giants and Cubs at 88-72 with two games to play. The Mets lost both of their final two games in Atlanta, while the Giants and Cubs both finished at 89-73. They played a one-game playoff to break the tie, and the Cubs won that game to advance to the postseason.
After the 1998 campaign, Piazza, who initially seemed uncomfortable in New York after arriving in May, signed a seven-year deal to remain in Flushing through the 2005 season. He would hit many memorable home runs in orange and blue, and provide Mets fans with many thrills, culminating in his induction to National Baseball Hall of Fame in a Mets cap.
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