Top Opening Day Moments in Mets History
The Mets have the best winning percentage in MLB history on Opening Day. Over the years, the team’s season openers have featured many big moments, from walk-offs to unsung players becoming heroes.
1985: Gary Carter Walks It Off in Mets Debut
The Mets led for most of the game on Opening Day in 1985, but they left 15 men on base and went just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position. The Cardinals erased a 5-2 deficit with two runs in the seventh inning and one in the ninth, with Doug Sisk walking Jack Clark with the bases loaded to tie the game. In the bottom of the 10th though, big-ticket acquisition Gary Carter sent everyone home with a solo homer off former Met reliever Neil Allen.
1996: Rey Ordoñez Makes Legendary Throw, Mets Come Back From Six-Run Deficit
Unlike the 1985 opener, the Cardinals jumped on the board first to begin the 1996 season, attacking Bobby Jones for six runs over 3 2/3 innings. With the Mets still trailing 6-3 in the seventh inning, Ray Lankford lined a double down the left field line, but rookie shortstop Rey Ordoñez fired a strike from his knees to Todd Hundley to nail Royce Clayton to end the inning. In the bottom half of the inning, the Mets rallied for four runs to take a 7-6 lead thanks to five consecutive one-out hits. Doug Henry and John Franco combined to record the final six outs to secure the victory.
1998: Alberto Castillo Snaps Scoreless Duel in 14th
The Mets and Phillies engaged in the longest season-opener in either franchise’s history on March 31, 1998. Starters Curt Schilling and Bobby Jones matched zeros, and the Phillies stranded 13 men on base. In the bottom of the 14th, the Mets finally broke through against Phillies closer Ricky Bottalico, loading the bases before Alberto Castillo’s two-out single ended the marathon.
2004: Kazuo Matsui Begins MLB Career With a Bang
After a very successful NPB career, Kazuo Matsui couldn’t have gotten his MLB career off to a better start. Batting lead-off and playing shortstop, Matsui clubbed the first pitch he saw from Braves starter Russ Ortiz over the center field fence. Matsui reached base five times, including two doubles, and drove in three runs on the day, leading the Mets to a 7-2 win.
2006: Beltrán’s Great Throw Seals Victory
The Mets entered the ninth inning of their season opener against the Nationals clinging to a 3-2 lead. Billy Wagner entered for his first save opportunity as a Met and retired Marlon Byrd and Matt LeCroy before José Vidro lined a base hit into center field. However, Carlos Beltrán cut the ball off in the gap and hurled a dart to Anderson Hernández, who slapped the tag on Vidro to end the game.
2013: Collin Cowgill Slams Padres
The Mets began the 2013 season by jumping all over Padres starter Edinson Volquez for six runs in three-plus innings. Leading 7-2 in the seventh inning, the Mets loaded the bases against reliever Brad Brach and lead-off hitter Collin Cowgill brought everyone home with a grand slam that barely cleared the fence in left field. Jon Niese held San Diego to two runs and four hits over 6 2/3 innings as the Mets cruised to an 11-2 win.
2015: Buddy Carlyle Earns Save, Mets Spoil Scherzer’s D.C. Debut
The Mets opened 2015 against the Nationals and their new ace, Max Scherzer, at Nationals Park, and Washington jumped out to a lead on Bryce Harper‘s fourth-inning homer. However, Bartolo Colon kept the Nationals at bay, allowing just three hits and striking out eight over six strong innings. With two outs in the top of the sixth, Ian Desmond‘s error loaded the bases, and Lucas Duda gave the Mets the lead with a two-run single. After Desmond committed another error in the seventh, Travis d’Arnaud extended the lead with an RBI triple.
Mets closer Jenrry Mejia was warming up as if he was going to enter the game in the ninth inning but was sat down due to an apparent injury. Southpaw Jerry Blevins got Harper to fly out to begin the frame, and right-hander Buddy Carlyle got Ryan Zimmerman and Desmond to ground out to earn the only save of his major league career.
2020: Yoenis Céspedes Delivers Keynote in Return to Lineup
By the time Opening Day finally rolled around in July of 2020, Yoenis Céspedes hadn’t played in a major league game in over two years. Luis Rojas penciled the slugger into the lineup as the team’s designated hitter, batting fifth against the Braves. Jacob deGrom and Mike Soroka exchanged scoreless outings, and in the seventh inning, Céspedes crushed a fastball from Chris Martin over the left field fence to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. Edwin Díaz struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning to wrap up the win.
What’s your favorite Opening Day moment?
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