Schourek was pitching a gem, actually perfect through 4.2 innings until Wes Chamberlain clobbered a home run. Despite losing the lead in the top of the 8th, Dallas Green opted to let Schourek hit in the bottom of the frame with 1 out instead of going to a pinch hitter (Jeff Kent was available). But then, after Schourek allowed Dykstra to lead off the 9th with a single, Green quickly yanked his pitcher in lieu of Franco. If he was on that short of a leash, why let him hit in the 8th? Those decisions made absolutely no sense. Perhaps Green went to the same bullpen mismanagement school as Buddy Harrelson.

Anyway, Mariano Duncan sacrificed Dykstra to second and Kruk grounded out to move Lenny to third with 2 down. But then Franco doomed himself by walking Darren Daulton, who was 0-for-10 lifetime vs. Franco at that point, on 4 pitches. Lefty masher Pete Incaviglia was next, who grounded what could have been the final out of the inning to third, but Chico Walker (starting in place of Howard Johnson) mishandled the ball and threw late to first, allowing the go-ahead run to score. A walk to Chamberlain brought up Batiste, who came through again by lining a 2-run single into left to put the icing on the cake. To my eyes, Batiste looked like a really good prospect at the time and his playing style and body type reminded me a lot of former Met Juan Uribe.

With Tony Fernandez traded earlier in the day, HoJo sick and Kent benched for a third straight game due to both hitting and fielding struggles, it left the Mets with an infield of Walker, Bogar and McKnight. Gross.

This may have been way before Curt Schilling reached his peak, but he was already fully dominant vs. the Mets, as this was his fourth straight complete game he threw against them. Meanwhile, though Schourek really struggled in 1993, this was definitely one of his better performances. Still, this marked his fourth straight start taking a loss.

The Phillies broadcast had this trivia question during the game: Who were the 6 Mets managers to also play for the team? In order, they were Gil Hodges, Yogi Berra, Roy McMillan, Joe Torre, Bud Harrelson and Dallas Green. However, they forgot one: Mike Cubbage, who played for the Mets in 1981 and managed them for 7 games after Harrelson was fired in 1991. Can you name the 2 others who've joined the club since 1993?

1. I'm a glutton for punishment, apparently. 2. During the early 1990s I was a preteen, and so I don't remember very much from this era. I'm mostly eager to learn how it all went so wrong. 3. It'll make watching and reviewing the successful years of the late 90s and early 2000s that much sweeter in comparison.