July 10, 2000

The Mets are down 8-1 in the top of the 8th inning against the Braves.  All signs point to another loss to Atlanta that season, since they’d owned the Mets recently winning 19 of the last 25 match ups.  I have a long drive ahead of me and decide to leave the game early and beat some of the traffic.  I get out of the parking lot as the Mets come up for the bottom half of the inning.  I turn on WFAN to listen to the end of the game.  This is the last time I have left a baseball game early in my life.

The inning goes as follows…

Derek Bell singles to right center.

Edgardo Alfonzo flies to center.

Mike Piazza reaches on infield hit, goes to second on bad throw. Bell to third.

Robin Ventura grounds out, Bell scores, Piazza to third. Braves 8, Mets 2

Todd Zeile singles to left, Piazza scores. Braves 8, Mets 3

Jay Payton singles to right, Zeile to second.

Benny Agbayani walks on 3-2 pitch to load bases.

Pinch-hitter Mark Johnson draws another full-count walk, forcing home Zeile. Braves 8, Mets 4

Melvin Mora draws third straight full-count walk, Payton scores. Braves 8, Mets 5

Joe McEwing pinch-runs for Johnson.

Bell draws 3-1 walk, Agbayani scores. Braves 8, Mets 6

Alfonzo singles to left, McEwing and Mora score. Braves 8, Mets 8

Piazza lines three-run home run to left. Mets 11, Braves 8

Ventura grounds out to end inning.

Imagine the feelings going through my mind as I listen to this.  The second greatest comeback in Mets History!  I was there, and I left.  Words can not describe what was going through my mind as I heard the call when Piazza hit the home run to take the lead.  One of the most exciting things that has ever happened at Shea Stadium.  I was there, and I missed it.

The worst part of this story is that the three friends that I went with, did not leave.  I decided to leave on my own.  They decided to stay.  I still go to Mets games with one of these friends, and have been reminded many times about this incident.  As I said before, I have not left a game early since.