revolve
February 8, 2002
Two friends of mine from college--one a Met fan, the other a Sox fan--made the trip up to Boston to catch the first of the three game set. This was the first time I had seen a Met game outside of Shea, and it was also the first time I got to see Piazza in a Met uniform, as my previous trip to a Met game had been the day he was traded, and thus not in the lineup. Of course, I really didn't get the chance to see Piazza hit, as Pedro Martinez broke his hand with an inside heater (I've heard rumors that Pedro's brother Ramon had some ill feelings toward Mike left over from their days in Dodgerland). The three of us thought we had great seats-- much like Bob Uecker in those old beer commercials--though it was the usher's mistake and by the 2nd inning, they unfortunately found our correct seats. Then again, there really isn't a bad seat in the house there. We expected it to be a great pitching match- up between Leiter and Pedro, but Pedro, instead of throwing gas, pitched like he had bad gas, and gave up home runs to the following Mets: Alberto Castillo, Luis Lopez, Bernard Gilkey and finally, John Olerud. Obviously Olerud's the black sheep here, I mean, in a quartet of sluggers that includes honored company like Castillo and Luis Lopez, one tends to omit Olerud's name from such an elite class. Future Met Mo Vaughn cranked one late, but by then the game was far out of reach, and Bobby V had brought in Brad Clontz of all people. The Sox fan in our group didn't have a great night, but got his revenge the following year...

Dave VW
January 22, 2024
It's always fun to attend a game the Mets win in an opposing ballpark, so that must have been some experience revolve. Especially considering it was Fenway Park. Just to note: Piazza didn't actually break his hand when he was hit by Pedro's pitch, it was just a bruise and he was back in the lineup a couple games later.

A nice way to kick off interleague play in 1998, and a solid palette cleanser for the previous 3 games in Pittsburgh. After getting swept by the Pirates, scoring just 5 runs in those 3 games, and then losing Piazza in the 1st inning here, it's quite surprising the Mets had the outburst they did in this game, what with Pedro on the hill and all. But after starting the year 5-0 with a 1.74 ERA over his first 10 starts in 1998, Pedro hit a wall and allowed 23 runs over his next 24 innings, a span during which this game is included. The 4 home runs he allowed were tied for the most he ever gave up in a start; he actually gave up 4 more in his very next start at Atlanta. He also gave up 4 gopherballs as a member of the Mets vs. Philadelphia in 2005. Meanwhile, the 4 HRs were tied for the most the Mets would hit in a game in 1998.

Castillo and Olerud hit back-to-back blasts in the 3rd, something Pedro hadn't allowed since August of 1996. Castillo's homer was his last as a Met (though he only hit 2), and Gilkey's homer was his 2nd-to-last as a Met. At only 4 innings long, this was Pedro's shortest start in 1998, as well as his shortest out of 15 career starts vs. the Mets. What's really interesting is that Pedro didn't lose in any of his first 9 starts against the Mets, but has now lost each of his last 3. But in his 3 remaining starts vs. the Mets (1 with Boston, 2 with Philly) he wouldn't lose again.

This was also the first time Hideo Nomo was in a Mets uniform, just acquired along with Clontz the previous day. He sort of controversially chose to wear #16, making him the first player to wear it since Dwight Gooden left the team in 1994. Clontz made his Mets debut in the game, pitching a scoreless inning, but would be demoted to AAA Norfolk a short time later and wouldn't be back until September.