The Mets had made the postseason for the first time in 11 years, but didn’t make it easy. Over a span of about two weeks, Bobby Valentine’s team went from being comfortably in the postseason to perilously being on the outside — only to stare elimination in the face and overcome it.
New York needed to win two of three final regular-season games just to have a chance at the playoffs. It won all three, which set up a one-game playoff in Cincinnati. The Mets won that, too. Less than 24 hours after claiming the Wild Card, they were in Arizona to take on a franchise in its second year of existence and faced Randy Johnson, coming off the first of his four straight Cy Young seasons. But the Mets — and most significantly their star second baseman — proved able to conquer this challenge, too
Here are some highlights from the Mets’ first postseason game victory since ’88:
- Providing analysis on the ESPN broadcast is the man who claimed MVP in the last postseason series won by the Mets, Ray Knight.
- Despite the short turnaround, Alfonzo did not appear any worse for the wear. At 12:20, just like he did the night before in Cincinnati, Fonzie delivers another homer in the opening inning.
- John Olerud doesn’t have an issue with the powerful left-hander, as he takes the Big Unit deep at 57:33 with Rickey Henderson aboard.
- With the score knotted in the top of the ninth, Johnson loaded the bases and exited with one out. Henderson had a chance to give the Mets the lead, but a fabulous play by Matt Williams at 2:48:37 created a force at home.
- It didn’t take long before that run-saving play was forgotten. Alfonzo added to his October heroics with a long drive at 2:51:30 that barely stayed fair and completely silenced the Arizona crowd.
