2000 National League Championship Series

Game 1

Wednesday, October 11, 2000 at Busch Stadium (II)

Busch Memorial Stadium

Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....

in St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...

The Mets jumped on Cardinals starter Darryl Kile

Darryl Kile

Darryl Andrew Kile was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1991-2002 for three different teams in his career. In his first season for the Cardinals, he won 20 games in 2000 as the team reached the postseason for the first time in four years. They advanced to the...

right from the outset. Rookie Timo Pérez

Timo Pérez

Timoniel M. "Timo" Pérez is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently in the Detroit Tigers organization.-Hiroshima Toyo Carp:...

led off the game with a double into the right field corner, and following a walk to Edgardo Alfonzo

Edgardo Alfonzo

Edgardo Antonio Alfonzo a.k.a. "Fonzie" is a former Major League Baseball infielder who most recently played for the Yomiuri Giants. He bats and throws right-handed, and is tall and weighs...

, scored on a double by Mike Piazza

Mike Piazza

Michael Joseph "Mike" Piazza ; born September 4, 1968) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played in his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics....

. A Robin Ventura

Robin Ventura

Robin Mark Ventura is the current manager of the Chicago White Sox. He is a former professional baseball player, a third baseman who played for four major league teams, most notably for the Chicago White Sox...

sacrifice fly would plate Alfonzo, and the Mets were off and running.

Piazza's double resulted in one of the more memorable moments of the series. Mets coach John Stearns

John Stearns

John Hardin Stearns is a former major league catcher who played for the New York Mets from to , and played a single game for the Philadelphia Phillies in ....

was wearing a microphone for Fox Sports

Fox Sports (USA)

Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...

during the games, and his screams of "THE MONSTER IS OUT OF THE CAGE!!" were broadcast to a national audience. "The Monster is out of the cage" would become a rallying cry for the Mets and Piazza throughout the series.

Mets starter Mike Hampton

Mike Hampton

Michael William Hampton is a left-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. During his career, Hampton was well known for being one of the best hitting pitchers of his time, as well as for his large contract and frequent injuries.-Early career:Mike Hampton was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in...

was sharp. Over seven innings, he limited the Cardinals to six hits and no runs. At the plate, Hampton helped his own cause by singling and scoring the Mets third run in the fifth inning.

The Mets would effectively put the game away in the ninth inning on home runs by Todd Zeile

Todd Zeile

Todd Edward Zeile is a former catcher, third baseman, and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1989 to . After graduating from UCLA, where he played as a catcher, Zeile played for 11 Major League teams during his career: the St...

and Jay Payton

Jay Payton

Jason Lee "Jay" Payton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He has played for the New York Mets , Colorado Rockies , San Diego Padres , Boston Red Sox , Oakland Athletics Baltimore Orioles and the Colorado Rockies in 2010. He bats and throws right-handed. Payton is an opposite-field...

. The Cardinals would plate two runs in their half of the ninth, but it would not be enough, and the Mets came away with the victory in the series opener.

Game 2

Thursday, October 12, 2000 at Busch Stadium (II)

Busch Memorial Stadium

Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....

in St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...

The Mets would once again jump out to an early lead, this time thanks to the wildness of Cardinals starter Rick Ankiel

Rick Ankiel

Richard Alexander Ankiel is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently with the Washington Nationals. He bats and throws left-handed....

. Ankiel failed to get out of the first inning, walking two batters, throwing two official wild pitches (although several other pitches sailed to the backstop), and allowing two runs before being removed from the game in favor of plucky reliever Britt Reames

Britt Reames

Britt William Reames is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of six seasons in the major leagues, between and , for four different teams....

.

The Cardinals would trim the Mets lead to 2–1 in the second inning against Mets starter Al Leiter

Al Leiter

Alois Terry "Al" Leiter is a former Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher. He is now a studio analyst for MLB Network, and a color commentator for the YES Network.-Early career :Leiter attended Central Regional High School....

. A run-scoring ground out by Eli Marrero

Eli Marrero

Elieser Marrero , is a former Major League Baseball player. Marrero started his career as a catcher, but spent time at first base, third base and in the outfield....

would plate Shawon Dunston

Shawon Dunston

Shawon Donnell Dunston is a former shortstop and right-handed batter in Major League Baseball. He resides in Fremont, CA. He was the first overall pick in the 1982 MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs, and played for the Cubs , San Francisco Giants , Pittsburgh Pirates , Cleveland Indians , St...

. The Mets would get that run back in their half of the third when Mike Piazza

Mike Piazza

hit his first home run of the series off Reames. The Cardinals would knot the game at 3–3 in the fifth inning on run-scoring doubles by Edgar Rentería

Edgar Rentería

Edgar Enrique Rentería Herazo , nicknamed "The Barranquilla Baby," is a Colombian professional baseball shortstop. He throws and bats right-handed. Previously, he has played for the Florida Marlins, the St...

and Fernando Tatis

Fernando Tatis

Fernando Tatís, Jr. is a Major League Baseball utility player, who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Texas Rangers , St. Louis Cardinals , Montreal Expos , Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets...

.

With the score still tied and two out in the top of the eighth, the Mets would put together a rally to take a 5–3 lead. A long single by Alfonzo would score Timo Pérez

Timo Pérez

Timoniel M. "Timo" Pérez is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently in the Detroit Tigers organization.-Hiroshima Toyo Carp:...

, and following an intentional walk to Piazza, Zeile would single home Alfonzo. However, John Franco and Turk Wendell

Turk Wendell

Steven John "Turk" Wendell is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher from to ....

failed to hold the lead in the bottom of the eighth, and the Cardinals would again tie the game at 5–5.

However, as was typical of many Mets victories in the 2000 season, the Mets proved their ability to bounce back after coughing up a lead and would regain the lead in the ninth inning. After Robin Ventura

Robin Ventura

reached on a Will Clark

Will Clark

William Nuschler Clark, Jr. is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the San Francisco Giants from to .Will was known by the nickname of "Will the Thrill"...

error, and was pinch run for by Joe McEwing

Joe McEwing

Joseph Earl McEwing is a former Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career with the New York Mets, where he played from through . Nicknamed "Super Joe", he was the prototypical utility player who could play any position on the field well...

, Rookie Jay Payton

Jay Payton

came through with his second game-winning hit of the postseason, nailing a single up the middle to score McEwing, as Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds

Jim Edmonds

James Patrick "Jim" Edmonds is a former American Major League Baseball center fielder. He played for the California/Anaheim Angels, the St. Louis Cardinals, the San Diego Padres, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Chicago Cubs, and the Cincinnati Reds...

allowed the ball to hop off the heel of his glove and roll behind him.

Armando Benitez

Armando Benítez

Armando Germán Benítez is a relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.-Baltimore Orioles:...

allowed a two-out walk to Jim Edmonds

Jim Edmonds

in the last of the ninth, but that was all the Cardinals were able to muster as the Mets took Game 2, 6–5, to take a 2–0 series lead.

Game 3

Saturday, October 14, 2000 at Shea Stadium

Shea Stadium

William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...

in Queens, New York
The Cardinals would mark their first, and only, victory of the NLCS with an easy 8–2 victory. Jim Edmonds

Jim Edmonds

hit a two-run double in the top of the first inning off Mets starter Rick Reed

Rick Reed (pitcher)

Richard Allen Reed is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Royals , Texas Rangers , Cincinnati Reds , New York Mets and Minnesota Twins...

, and the Cardinals never looked back. The Cardinals would tack on two more runs in the third and another in the fourth before putting the game away with three runs in the fifth.

Cardinals starter Andy Benes

Andy Benes

Andrew Charles Benes is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 14-year career from 1989-2002. Benes played for four different teams: the San Diego Padres, the Seattle Mariners, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks...

pitched eight solid innings, holding the Mets to two runs and six hits, while notching five strikeouts. More importantly, he was able to give the Cardinals weary bullpen a bit of rest and put them back in the series.

Game 4

Sunday, October 15, 2000 at Shea Stadium

Shea Stadium

in Queens, New York
Both teams would come out with their hitting shoes on in this game. The Cardinals would jump out to a 2–0 lead in the top of the first inning, as Jim Edmonds

Jim Edmonds

hit a two-run home run off Mets Starter Bobby Jones

Bobby J. Jones

Robert Joseph Jones is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. His career spanned from 1993 through 2002. He pitched for two teams, the New York Mets, and the San Diego Padres...

. The lead, however, would be short lived as the Mets would flex their offensive muscle against Darryl Kile

Darryl Kile

in a record-setting display.

Timo Pérez

Timo Pérez

Timoniel M. "Timo" Pérez is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently in the Detroit Tigers organization.-Hiroshima Toyo Carp:...

, as he had done all postseason, sparked the rally with a leadoff ground rule double in the bottom of the first. Edgardo Alfonzo

Edgardo Alfonzo

Edgardo Antonio Alfonzo a.k.a. "Fonzie" is a former Major League Baseball infielder who most recently played for the Yomiuri Giants. He bats and throws right-handed, and is tall and weighs...

followed with a double of his own, down the right field line, scoring Perez. Mike Piazza

Mike Piazza

followed with a third double for the Mets, a long one-hop drive off the wall in right center. Holding on the fly, Alfonzo only made it to third, but Robin Ventura

Robin Ventura

followed by ripping the Mets fourth consecutive double, which would score both Alfonzo and Piazza, and put the Mets ahead 3–2. One out later, Benny Agbayani

Benny Agbayani

Benny Peter Agbayani, Jr. is retired professional baseball player. Born in Hawaii to Filipino and Samoan parents, he attended Saint Louis School and Hawaii Pacific University. He also attended the Oregon Institute of Technology...

launched a long double off the wall in left center to score Ventura. This was the Mets fifth double of the inning, which set a new League Championship Series

League Championship Series

The League Championship Series is the official name for a round of postseason play in Major League Baseball which has been conducted since 1969...

record.

The Mets would continue to bombard Kile and the Cardinals in the second inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Todd Zeile

Todd Zeile

would hit yet another double for the Mets, scoring two more runs. Agbayani would single home a seventh Mets run before the inning was over.

Although LaRussa had counted on Kile to eat up innings and rest his taxed bullpen, he was sorely mistaken. Kile was gone by the fourth inning, and Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan

Dave Duncan (baseball)

David Edwin Duncan is an American former professional baseball player and current pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals...

was ejected from the game while removing him. Kile's replacement, Mike James

Mike James (baseball)

Michael Elmo James is a retired professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1995-2002.-External links:...

, would not fare much better, as Mike Piazza

Mike Piazza

would launch a long home run, well over the Cardinals' bullpen out in deep left field to give the Mets an 8–3 lead after fourth.

Bobby Jones

Bobby J. Jones

, who had thrown a magnificent one-hit shutout against the Giants in the division series, struggled while pitching with a big lead. In the fifth inning, Jones would be knocked from the game after surrendering an RBI-double to Eric Davis, and two more runs of his responsibility would score after he had exited the game. Fortunately for the Mets, Glendon Rusch

Glendon Rusch

Glendon James Rusch is a left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously played for the Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, and San Diego Padres...

came out of the bullpen to stop the Cardinals rally, and his three innings of shutout ball were key in the Mets ability to eventually win the game.

The Mets would put the game away in the sixth, thanks to two errors by Cardinals third baseman Fernando Tatis

Fernando Tatis

. Tatis' first error allowed Perez to reach base, despite the fact that Tatis had time, his hasty throw was low and Will Clark

Will Clark

William Nuschler Clark, Jr. is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the San Francisco Giants from to .Will was known by the nickname of "Will the Thrill"...

was unable to handle it. Tatis' second error, a bobble on a Ventura grounder, would allow Mike Bordick

Mike Bordick

Michael Todd Bordick is an American retired professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball from 1990 to 2003 with four different teams: the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays.-Early life:Bordick's father, Michael, was in the Air Force,...

to score.

The Mets received strong bullpen work not only from Rusch, but also from John Franco and Armando Benitez

Armando Benítez

Armando Germán Benítez is a relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.-Baltimore Orioles:...

, who threw scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth respectively, to close out the Cardinals and give the Mets a commanding 3–1 lead in the series.

This game would turn controversial for LaRussa, who had been bringing injured slugger Mark McGwire

Mark McGwire

Mark David McGwire , nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the hitting coach for the St...

off the bench to pinch hit in key situations. Afforded several opportunities with the tying runs in place, LaRussa never sent McGwire up to hit in this game, and eventually he would run out of opportunities to do so.

Game 5

Monday, October 16, 2000 at Shea Stadium

Shea Stadium

in Queens, New York
Needing a victory to close out the series at home and avoid a trip back to St. Louis, the Mets, behind Mike Hampton

Mike Hampton

, cruised to a 7–0 victory and their first National League pennant since their championship season of 1986

1986 World Series

The 1986 World Series pitted the New York Mets against the Boston Red Sox. It was cited in the legend of the "Curse of the Bambino" to explain the error by Bill Buckner in Game 6 that allowed the Mets to extend the series to a seventh game...

.

The Mets would once again stake themselves to an early lead, jumping on Cardinals starter Pat Hentgen

Pat Hentgen

Patrick George Hentgen is a former Major League Baseball player. Hentgen was a right-handed starting pitcher in the major leagues and a Cy Young Award winner in...

in the first inning. Again it was Timo Pérez

Timo Pérez

Timoniel M. "Timo" Pérez is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently in the Detroit Tigers organization.-Hiroshima Toyo Carp:...

sparking the Mets, singling under the glove of Edgar Rentería, stealing second base and moving to third when catcher Carlos Hernández's throw went into center field. Edgardo Alfonzo

Edgardo Alfonzo

Edgardo Antonio Alfonzo a.k.a. "Fonzie" is a former Major League Baseball infielder who most recently played for the Yomiuri Giants. He bats and throws right-handed, and is tall and weighs...

would single home Perez. Following a walk to Mike Piazza

Mike Piazza

, Robin Ventura

Robin Ventura

would single home Alfonzo for the Mets second run. The Mets would add a third run on a fielder's choice by Todd Zeile

Todd Zeile

.

The Mets would effectively put the game away in the fourth inning, when with two outs and the bases loaded (a situation in which Zeile found himself the previous night), Todd Zeile

Todd Zeile

hit a long double off the wall in right center field, scoring three runs, giving the Mets a 6–0 lead, and resulting in raucous Mets fans making Shea Stadium

Shea Stadium

literally shake.

The Mets would add a final run off a Rick Ankiel

Rick Ankiel

Richard Alexander Ankiel is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently with the Washington Nationals. He bats and throws left-handed....

wild pitch in the seventh inning. In yet another controversial move from Tony LaRussa, Ankiel was inserted into the game in the bottom of the seventh. After walking Mike Bordick

Mike Bordick

to start the inning, retired Hampton and Perez, before uncorking a pair of wild pitches with Edgardo Alfonzo

Edgardo Alfonzo

Edgardo Antonio Alfonzo a.k.a. "Fonzie" is a former Major League Baseball infielder who most recently played for the Yomiuri Giants. He bats and throws right-handed, and is tall and weighs...

at the plate, allowing Bordick to score the seventh and final run of the game. Ankiel would depart after walking Alfonzo.

An ugly incident was averted in the bottom of the eighth inning, where with two outs and Benny Agbayani

Benny Agbayani

on first base, Jay Payton

Jay Payton

was hit near his left eye by a fastball from Cardinals pitcher Dave Veres

Dave Veres

David Scott Veres is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1994-2003. On January 4, 2007, he signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies. However, he was released after appearing in just 5 games for their AAA affiliate in Colorado Springs...

. Payton immediately leapt up and charged Veres, and both benches and bullpens cleared, although Payton would be restrained by Agbayani and Bobby Valentine

Bobby Valentine

Robert John "Bobby V" Valentine is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets as well as the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan...

before the incident could escalate. Mets pitcher John Franco mugged for the fans to settle down following the incident; the crowd responded by chanting "NA NA, HEY HEY, GOODBYE!" at the Cardinals, and booed them off the field at the conclusion of the inning.

Saying before the game that "I was looking to pitch the game of my life", Mike Hampton

Mike Hampton

was nothing short of superb. In pitching a complete game shutout, Hampton allowed only three hits and one walk, and struck out eight. His efforts in this game, and in Game 1 would result in his being named MVP of the NLCS.

Hampton closed out the game by getting pinch-hitter Rick Wilkins to fly out to center field. Mets center fielder Timo Pérez

Timo Pérez

Timoniel M. "Timo" Pérez is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently in the Detroit Tigers organization.-Hiroshima Toyo Carp:...

jumped up and down three times before making the catch, Robin Ventura

Robin Ventura

hoisted Hampton in the air and a wild celebration was touched off, culminating in Mike Piazza

Mike Piazza

leading the entire Mets team in a victory lap around Shea Stadium

Shea Stadium

Composite box

2000 NLCS (4–1): New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...

over St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...

Aftermath

The Mets would advance to the 2000 World Series

2000 World Series

-Game 1:Saturday, October 21, 2000 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe opener fell on two anniversaries. Twenty-five years prior, Boston Red Sox's catcher Carlton Fisk ended Game 6 of the 1975 World Series with his famous home run off the left field foul pole in Fenway Park in Boston to beat...

, their first appearance in the World Series

World Series

The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...

since their championship season of 1986

1986 World Series

. They would meet their crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...

in the first Subway Series

Subway Series

The Subway Series is a series of Major League Baseball games played between teams based in New York City. The term's historic usage has been in reference to World Series games played between New York teams...

to take place since 1956

1956 World Series

The 1956 World Series of Major League Baseball was played between the New York Yankees and the defending champion Brooklyn Dodgers during the month of October 1956. The Series was a rematch of the 1955 World Series...

. In five games that were as nip and tuck as baseball can be, the Yankees would come out on top, winning their third consecutive World Championship. The Mets would then muddle through several unsuccessful seasons, and would not return to the Postseason until .

Series MVP Mike Hampton

Mike Hampton

would leave via free agency

Free agent

In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....

following the season, signing with the Colorado Rockies

Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...

. Hampton's departure from New York was not well-received, as he made comments about the city's school system, and was routinely booed upon his reappearances at Shea Stadium

Shea Stadium

.

The Cardinals would return to the National League Championship Series

2002 National League Championship Series

-Game 1:Wednesday, October 9, 2002 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri-Game 2:Thursday, October 10, 2002 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri-Game 3:Saturday, October 12, 2002 at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, California-Game 4:...

in 2002, losing to the San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....

. They would return to the World Series

World Series

for the first time since 1987

1987 World Series

The 1987 World Series pitted the Minnesota Twins versus the St. Louis Cardinals.Minnesota was victorious in a World Series that was the first in which the home team won every game...

when they defeated the Houston Astros

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...

in the NLCS in 2004

2004 World Series

The 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...

. The Cardinals would face the Mets again in the 2006 National League Championship Series

2006 National League Championship Series

The National League Championship Series , the second round of the 2006 National League playoffs, began on October 12 and ended on October 19; it was scheduled to begin on October 11, but was postponed a day because of inclement weather. The St...

, the Redbirds defeated the Mets this time in an epic and dramatic series that ended in seven games. The only player remaining on either roster from this series in 2006 was Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds

Jim Edmonds

. There are currently no Mets left on the team that played in 2000.

External links

2000 NLCS at Baseball Reference

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