National League Standings, May 3, 1996
METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE MAY 3, 1996 GAME:
David
March 11, 2003
This was a crushing loss. Wilson one of the supposed "phenom" pitchers had like a 1 hitter going into the 9th at Wrigley. Sammy Sosa hit a three run homer in the bottom of the 9th to win it for the Cubs. The Mets never recovered that season.
Frankie B
May 10, 2009
This is Dallas Green as his finest. Wilson pitches the game of his life striking out 14. Instead of taking him out to face Sosa and bringing in the junk baller (Franco), Green keeps him in. Wilson was never the same after this game and this is when I lost all credibility for Dallas Green.
Dave VW
July 25, 2023
Dallas Green certainly deserved his fair share of criticisms for the many disappointments of the 1996 season, but I'm not sure this game is an example of one. Wilson entered the 9th inning having thrown just 92 pitches and hadn't allowed a hit since the 1st inning, so I don't see the problem in letting him chase his first career complete game. Despite a leadoff bunt single, Wilson struck out the next two batters, Brian McRae and Ryan Sandberg. Green then had a choice with the runner on 2nd after a stolen base and the lefty Mark Grace up -- bring in Franco to face Grace lefty vs. lefty, or intentionally walk Grace and let Wilson face Sosa, who Wilson had struck out twice already in the game and hadn't had a hit in 5 games. When the decision was made to walk Grace, you're not then going to bring in Franco to face the righty Sosa. That makes no sense. Unfortunately, Wilson left a hanging slider over the plate that Sosa ripped onto Waveland Avenue for a walkoff homer, but you can't disagree with the strategy that was used.
Not only that, but Wilson struck out 10, not 14. With the power of hindsight it's real easy to say Green should have taken Wilson out in that spot, but in real time I don't think there was anything wrong with his decision whatsoever. But I do concur that this was a real tough loss and one that sent the Mets into quite the tailspin.
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