On June 27, 2008, the Mets and Yankees played a split-stadium doubleheader, necessitated by a rainout earlier in the season (May 16) in the Bronx. Game one was the makeup of the rainout, and took place at Yankee Stadium. In that game, Mets’ first baseman Carlos Delgado had a day for the history books.
Delgado set the Mets’ team record for RBIs in a game with nine, in support of the Mets’ 15-6 victory over the Yankees. The native of Puerto Rico had a double and two home runs, one of which was a three-run home run and the other was a grand slam.
The Mets had scratched a run ins the top of the first inning on a David Wright RBI single, but the Yankees tied the game in their half of the first inning on a Jason Giambi single off Mets’ starter Mike Pelfrey. The game remained tied until the third inning, when Carlos Beltran belted a two-run home run to put the Mets ahead by a 3-1 score. Pelfry could not hold the lead, as the Yankees grabbed a 4-3 advantage in their half of the third inning.
From that point, the game became the Delgado show. In the top of the fifth, Beltran drove in the tying run on a fielder’s choice. Delgado then doubled in Beltran and Luis Castillo, who had walked. The Mets held a 6-4 lead, but Delgado was just getting started.
After the Mets had plated a run ins the top of the sixth, Delgado stepped into the batter’s box with the bases loaded. He proceeded to take Yankees’ pitcher Ross Ohlendorf out of the yard for a grand slam. The Mets now led 11-4, but their first baseman (who served as the designated hitter in this game) was not quite done for the day.
With the Mets leading 11-5 in the top of the eighth inning, David Wright drove in a run to give Mets an even dozen runs on the day. One out later, Delgado took his turn at bat with runners on the corners, facing Yankees’ pitcher (and future Met) LaTroy Hawkins. Delgado drove a three-run home run into the right field bleachers, that were occupied solely by Mets fans at this point. With his day complete, Delgado now had driven in nine runs, surpassing Dave Kingman who had held the club record for RBIs in a single game.
Delgado spent four years in Flushing, posting a slash line of .267/.351/.506. He hit 104 home runs as Met, and 473 over his 17-year career with the Blue Jays, Marlins, and Mets. His career slash line is .280/.383/.546.
The Mets would lose the nightcap of the two-borough doubleheader on that June Friday night thirteen years ago. However, they had quite a time in the Bronx that afternoon, led by a record-breaking performance courtesy of Carlos Delgado.
The post OTD in 2008: Carlos Delgado Drives In Nine As Mets Beat Yankees first appeared on Metsmerized Online.
