National League Standings, May 31, 1999
METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE MAY 31, 1999 GAME:
Lee
May 22, 2005
In 1999, Bobby Bonilla had become a member of the Mets organization. Every time he stepped up to the plate, he would get booed. At this game against the Reds (which I was at), Bobby Bonilla stepped up to a chorus of boos (which included myself) and then, with a smooth swing, he silenced the crowd by smashing one into the second deck in right. Most fans didn't know whether to cheer or boo so the Shea crowd was pretty much silent (I was one of the few who clapped). However, Greg Vaughn countered it with a monster blast of his own into the Shea bleachers and Al Leiter lost the game 5-3, giving him his 5th loss of the season. He would turn it around though.
Dave VW
April 17, 2024
Not mentioned by Lee was that this was Bonilla's first time back in the lineup after missing 18 games while on the DL. Also, Lee's memory might be a bit fuzzy, as Bonilla hit one into the second deck but foul on the pitch before he connected for his home run, which was a mammoth shot that sailed over the Mets bullpen. Brian McRae then went back-to-back with Bonilla, which gave the Mets a 3-1 lead that unfortunately didn't last very long.
That's because Leiter, who had his last start skipped to help him recover from a cranky knee, gave up 2 runs in the 3rd, and then allowed home runs to Vaughn in the 5th and Pokey Reese in the 7th. It was his 5th straight start giving up at least 5 runs as he ended the month of May with an ERA of 9.00. A far cry indeed from the pitcher we saw in 1998.
Meanwhile, after Mike Piazza doubled with 2 out in the 3rd, the Reds yanked starter Brett Tomko, and Ron Villone and Brian Williamson combined to hold the Mets hitless the rest of the game. Villone got the win by throwing 4 no-hit innings, his first in the majors since 1997. Robin Ventura had a particularly rough day, earning the golden sombrero by going 0-for-4 with 4 strikeouts. It was his only 4-strikeout game as a Met, and he was the only Mets position player to strikeout 4 times in a game in 1999 (pitcher Octavio Dotel also did it later on in August).
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