On May 19, 2006, the Mets played the Yankees at Shea in the first Subway Series game of the season. For the first time in years, the Mets were ready to take on the Yankees as equal contending teams.
With a pitching mismatch of Randy Johnson vs. Geremi Gonzalez, the Mets fell behind by four runs, but rallied to tie the game, 6-6, going into the bottom of the ninth. With two outs in the ninth and Paul Lo Duca on second, Mariano Rivera walked Carlos Delgado intentionally to bring up David Wright.
Before 56,000 screaming fans, the 23-year-old Wright proceeded to win the game with a walkoff hit off of the greatest closer in history.
“There’s nothing better,” Wright said after the game. “New York’s the greatest baseball stage.”
As a Met fan, I would hope that Wright would continue to feel that there is nothing better than succeeding in New York. But even if he does place Tuesday night’s winning hit at the top of his baseball highlights, we are ultimately talking about a walkoff hit in March vs. a walkoff hit in May.
Let’s hope that this year brings Wright some memories he can cherish from October.
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