Previous Game:
August 31, 1998
Mets 8, Dodgers 3
1998 Regular Season Game 139
September 1, 1998
Padres 9, Mets 8
Next Game:
September 2, 1998
Mets 4, Padres 1
Click to view scorecard

National League Standings, September 1, 1998

Box Score Game Memories Scorecard Mets Stats
Thru This Game

METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE SEPTEMBER 1, 1998 GAME:

Jon
March 15, 2002
This game was memorable for a couple reasons: We overcame a 6-1 deficit with a 7-run 7th inning highlighted by Piazza's 3-run bomb. Wendell and Cook summarily blew the lead and we lost the game, and ground in the wild card race. Real gut-punch. The other interesting thing was that this game was Jay Payton's long-awaited major league debut. He went 2-for-2 with 2 singles.

Dave VW
March 13, 2024
Definitely a heartbreaking loss. To rally for 7 runs in the 7th inning to take a 2-run lead over a Padres team that was bound for the World Series, only to have Turk Wendell and Dennis Cook -- the two most reliable bullpen pitchers all season -- blow the lead in the bottom of the inning really hurt.

Stan Spencer was only making his second career start at the Major League level and largely held the Mets in check. He didn't allow a hit until Lenny Harris singled with 1 out in the 5th (which Tim McCarver deserves credit for as he jinxed the no-hitter by mentioning it mere seconds before Harris got his single). But then Edgardo Alfonzo homered off him in the 6th, and Brian McRae led off the 7th with another homer. Harris followed with a double, and that brought in Dan Miceli from the pen.

Miceli got 2 quick outs but then the Mets went on a roll, as Matt Franco (who questionably came in for John Olerud during a double switch very early on) hit an RBI single, Jay Payton singled on the first pitch he saw as a big-leaguer, and Alfonzo walked, loading the bases for pinch-hitter Jorge Fabregas. Fabregas knocked in 2 with a single (his last hit as a Met it would turn out), and Piazza followed with a 3-run homer to RF. The comeback complete, turning a 6-1 deficit into an 8-6 lead.

But the usually ultra-reliable Wendell couldn't hold it, as he allowed a single to Greg Vaughn and a 2-run homer to Steve Finley. Wendell had just tied a Mets record by appearing in 17 games in August, and was obviously showing signs of overuse. After the homer, he put 2 more on base with one out before giving way to Cook. Dennis' first pitch hit Jim Leyritz to load the bases, and he then walked Quilvio Veras to force in the go-ahead run. The Padres didn't have another baserunner the rest of the game, but the damage was done. Donne Wall struck out the side in the 8th, and Trevor Hoffman got Alfonzo to ground into a double play to end the game for his 45th save of the season, which set a new single-season record for the Padres.

Hideo Nomo, who turned 30 the day before, was coming off his only complete game as a Met vs. the Giants his last time out. But he was hideous in this one, giving up 2 bombs to Vaughn and lasted only 4 innings. It would be his second-to-last start as a Met, as his inconsistency would banish him from the rotation for most of September. Along with Payton, Rigo Beltran made his Mets debut as well, tossing a scoreless inning in relief. Mel Rojas also pitched in this one and characteristically allowed a run in his one inning of work, although he was ironically lined up to get the win as he was still the pitcher of record when the Mets had their 7-run rally. This would be Rojas' second-to-last appearance with the team as well.

Wendell took the loss, which was his first as a member of the Mets -- a span of 64 appearances. He wouldn't lose again until July of the following season. Former Met Randy Myers, who recorded the final out of the 7th inning, got the win for San Diego. It would be the last of his career, as he'd suffer a shoulder injury and be forced to retire a few years later after numerous comeback attempts.



Now it's your turn! Tell us what you remember of this game:

Please note:
We're looking for your comments about this specific game. We've had people use this space to share their thoughts on how the current season is going, or on ways that the Mets can improve the team. Such comments, unless in the context of this particular game, will be considered off-topic and will be removed.

Example One
The Mets suck! They need to trade Smith and get somebody like Jones.
This comment is off-topic and will be removed. It has nothing to do with any specific game. But here's an acceptable alternative:

Example Two
The Mets suck! Smith made three errors in this game, and hit into a double play, and the Mets blew a 5-0 lead. They need to get rid of Smith and get somebody like Jones.
See the difference? Here you're getting the same point across, but it's in the proper context. We wouldn't consider this message to be off-topic, and we would let it remain.

We do appreciate anybody who takes the time to share their thoughts on our site, and we hate to remove anybody's postings. But if we didn't take steps to ensure that only on-topic messages were retained, The Ultimate Mets Database would become a confusing jumble of unrelated comments, and would thus be less enjoyable to visitors like you.

Thank you!



Your name:
E-Mail address:
OPTIONAL
Comments about the game:






About Us
  • Contact us
  • FAQ



  • Copyright 1999-2024, The Ultimate Mets Database