It was on this date in 1999 that Robin Ventura, perhaps best known in Mets lore for his “Grand Slam Single”, became the only player in MLB history to hit a grand slam in both games of a double header.
The first grand slam, off of Jim Abbott, was hit in front of a lot of empty seats as the game was started at 4:20 as a make up from the rain out the night before. The video is available here:
The first inning grand slam staked the Mets to a quick 4 – 0 lead, and every run was necessary as the final score was 11 – 10 in the Mets win. Al Leiter was credited with the win despite allowing six runs in five innings of work, and John Franco had his 12th save of the year by pitching the ninth.
The second game, the previously scheduled game, did not start until 8:47 PM, and Robin Ventura’s grand slam off of Horacio Estrada put the Mets up 9 – 0. In the second game, Masato Yoshii scattered eight hits across seven innings of work and picked up his fourth win of the year.
As quoted by Arizona reporters after the first game, Mike Piazza said. “He had a good week by most guys’ standards.”
Ventura had two grand slams once before May 20, 1999 when he hit two slams on September 4, 1995 for the White Sox against the Texas Rangers in a 14 – 3 game. Ventura however preferred his multiple grand slam day with the Mets.
“This time was a little different because it affects two games,” Ventura said. “The last time the game was out of hand. Here it helped us win twice. It was a good day for a doubleheader.”
In 1999, every run and every win was needed by the Mets. The Mets barely made the playoffs after finishing second to the Atlanta Braves in the NL East that season with a 96 – 66 record after 162 games. Tied with the Reds for the Wild Card spot after the regular season schedule, the Mets faced off against Cincinnati in a play-in game.
The Mets beat the Reds 5 – 0 and then defeated the 100-win Arizona Diamondbacks in the Division Series in four games. They ultimately succumbed to the Atlanta Braves after six games of the NLCS, but it was in Game 5 of that series that Robin Ventura hit his “grand slam single” in the 15th inning.
What a day, what a year, what a hitter.
LGM
