Mets Games Played On This Date: April 1

 

Happy Opening Day.  

Tonight will be the tenth time the Mets have played on April 1^st.  The other 9 games include 6 other Opening Days including a great comeback win against the Cardinals in 1996, the Colin Cowgill Grand Slam Opener, and an extra inning loss.  

Year: 2019 Game #4 Monday Apr 1; NYM 7 @ MIA 3; boxscore WP: Familia LP: Steckenrider; Time: 3:10; NIGHT; Attendance: 6,489. 

AP News: Alonso hits 1st career HR to help Mets beat Marlins 7-3. Pete Alonso, their 230-pound rookie slugger, squeezed into a clubhouse cart as ordered by teammates for a postgame dousing that included every available substance. “A couple of eggs,” Alonso said. “Barbecue sauce. Mayonnaise. Beer. Shaving cream. Maybe ketchup and mustard. Maybe relish.” He didn’t mind because the shower was celebratory — a reward for his first major league homer. Alonso’s three-run shot capped a four-run ninth inning, and the Mets overcame 16 strikeouts by their hitters to rally past the Miami Marlins 7-3 Monday night. 

You Tube: Rosario, Alonso lead Mets to comeback win - 4/1/19. 

 

Year: 2018 Game #3 Sunday Apr 1; NYM 1 STL 5; boxscore; WP: Weaver; LP: Matz; Time: 3:15; DAY; Attendance: 22,486. 

AP News: DeJong’s 1st multihomer game leads Cards over Mets 5-1. “After solid starts by Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom, Matz (0-1) tried to put behind an injury-decimated sophomore season in which the lefty slumped to a 2-7 record. He struggled with his control and was up to 51 pitches after two innings and 73 after three. He lasted five innings, giving up three runs and four hits, as the Mets kept up their terrible trend of last year, when they were 16-36 in series finales.” 

You Tube: DeJong, Ozuna lift the Cardinals to first win: 4/1/18. 

You Tube: Entire Game SNY Broadcast SLN AT NYN - April 01, 2018. 

Year: 2013; Game #1; Monday Apr 1, NYM 11 SDP 2; boxscore; WP: Niese; LP: Volquez; Time: 03:01; DAY; Attendance: 41,053. 

Baseball Reference: For the first time since the New York Mets started play in 1962, both New York teams open the season at home on the same day. The Mets improve their Opening Day record to a major league best 34-18 by crushing the Padres, 11 - 2, behind the pitching of Jon Niese and a double and grand slam from new CF Collin Cowgill. Things aren't so good for the Yankees, who lose to the Red Sox, 8 - 2.

You Tube: Cowgill's grand slam.  

 

Year: 2011; Game #1; Friday Apr 1, NYM 2 @ FLA 6; boxscore; WP: Johnson  LP: Pelfrey; Time: 02:42; NIGHT; Attendance: 41,237. 

Baseball Reference: Marlins P Josh Johnson takes a no-hitter into the 7th inning, and C John Buck, in his first game for the team, hits a grand slam in Florida's 6 - 2 Opening Day win over the New York Mets. Logan Morrison also homers for the Fish, while Willie Harris breaks the no-no bid with a double to lead off the 7th.

Year: 2008; Game #2; Tuesday Apr 1, NYM 4 @ FLA 5; boxscore; 10 innings; WP: Miller LP: Wise; Time: 03:31; NIGHT; Attendance: 15,117 

National Pastime.com:  With two outs in the 10th inning, Robert Andino's first career round-tripper is a memorable one as his walk-off homer to deep left off Matt Wise gives the Marlins a 5-4 victory over the Mets at Dolphin Stadium. The post-game celebration is short-lived when the Miami native takes off for home to meet police after getting a text message from his wife informing him their house may have an intruder. 

Year: 2007; Game #1; Sunday Apr 1, NYM 6 @ STL 1; boxscore; WP: Glavine LP: Carpenter; Time: 02:38; NIGHT; Attendance: 45,429. 

MLB.com: In a performance reminiscent of his gem against the Cardinals in Game 1 of the 2006 NLCS, Tom Glavine was stellar, aided by Carlos Beltran nailing David Eckstein at the plate in a key sixth-inning play. Carlos Delgado and Paul Lo Duca drove in two each, while Beltran had an RBI single. 

Year: 2002; Game #1; Monday; Apr 1, NYM 6 PIT 2; boxscore; WP: Leiter LP: Villone; Time: 03:12; DAY; Attendance: 53,734. 

National Pastime.com:  The Mets, with a 6-2 victory over the Bucs at Shea Stadium, improve their mark for Opening Day victories to 26-15 (.634), a major league record. The New York expansion team didn't win their first season opener until the ninth year of the franchise's existence.  Jay Payton HR and 2 RBIs and Roberto Alomar, 2 RBIs. 

Year: 1997; Game #1; Tuesday Apr 1, NYM 5 @ SDP 12; boxscore; WP: Hamilton LP: Perez; Time: 03:03; DAY; Attendance: 43,005. 

National Pastime.com:  Setting a record for the most runs scored in one inning of an Opening Day contest this century, the Padres score 11 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning en route to a 12-5 rout of the Mets. Chris Gomez, Rickey Henderson, and Quilvio Veras lead the attack with back-to-back-to-back home runs.

Year: 1996; Game #1; Monday Apr 1, NYM 7 STL 6; boxscore; WP: Dipoto; LP: Fossas; Save: Franco; Time: 02:52; DAY; Attendance: 42,060.

Centerfield Maz: "...after the 7th inning stretch the Mets had one of the best Opening Day comebacks in history. They scored four runs on five hits, off Cardinal relievers Rick Honeycutt, Cory Bailey & Tony Fossas."

National Pastime.com: The Mets rally overcome a 6-0 deficit, beating the Cardinals at Shea Stadium, 7-6. The decisive run in the biggest Opening Day comeback of the century scores as a result of an unusual double play when Bernard Gilkey, the base runner on first, is doubled up on Rico Brogna's short sac fly to right field (RF-1B-SS-1B-SS), allowing Lance Johnson to cross home plate on the play.

You Tube: STL@NYM: Ordonez makes the play at home.