| | NEW YORK -- Reliever after reliever came out of the New York
Mets' bullpen to keep their season alive for at least another day.
It almost wasn't enough.
After 11 scoreless innings of relief, the Braves broke through
against Octavio Dotel in the 15th inning Sunday.
Just when it looked like New York's season would end three games
short of a possible Subway Series, the Mets broke through in the
bottom of the 15th to win 4-3 in the longest postseason game since 1986.
While Robin Ventura provided the game-winning hit with the bases
loaded, it was the Mets' bullpen that deserved much of the credit
for making it possible.
"Everybody did their job," reliever John Franco said. "From
the first guy in the bullpen to the last guy in the bullpen,
everybody contributed. From a starter in Kenny Rogers to Dotel who
hadn't pitched in a while."
Trailing Atlanta 3-1 in the best-of-7 series, Bobby Valentine
managed the game as if it were the Mets' last -- which it almost
was.
Valentine set a postseason record by using nine pitchers --
including four in a four-batter span in the seventh inning -- after
starter Masato Yoshii was knocked out with no outs in the fourth
inning.
"I've been in long games, but not in games where every pitch
meant so much from the fourth inning on," Valentine said.
That maneuvering left Valentine with just Dotel in the bullpen
after Game 2 starter Kenny Rogers pitched the 11th and 12th
innings.
"When it got to be extra innings, I knew that I would probably
get in the game if we didn't score," Rogers said. "You know you
can't give up a run. We had no room for error. It was an
unbelievable win for us."
Dotel shut down the Braves for his first two innings, escaping
in the 13th when Lockhart was gunned down at the plate trying to
score from first on Chipper Jones' double to right.
Had Ventura not broken the 3-3 tie, Game 4 starter Rick Reed, who had pitched seven innings the previous night, would have pitched the 16th.
That Valentine and the Mets relied so heavily on the bullpen
should come as no surprise, as it was one of the strengths of the
team all year.
The Mets took an NL-record 119 games to throw their first
complete game, but with one of the best bullpens in the league, New
York remained in contention. Mets relievers went 31-19 with a 3.67
ERA on the year.
But they didn't pitch any more important innings than they did
Sunday. After Yoshii gave away a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning,
Orel Hershiser came in and got out of a first-and-second, no-out
jam.
In his second relief appearance this decade, Hershiser struck
out Andruw Jones and Eddie Perez before getting Walt Weiss to
ground out.
Mets relievers would pitch in and out of trouble until
Lockhart's hit in the 15th. The Braves stranded a playoff-record 19
runners -- 18 against the bullpen -- and were 1-for-13 with runners
in scoring position after Yoshii left.
"The whole bullpen did everything they could and was patient
and waited for our offense," Hershiser said. "Our offense clicked
just in time."
Hershiser struck out Brian Jordan to end the fifth with two men
on, before facing real trouble in the sixth. He loaded the bases
with one out on an error by first baseman John Olerud and two
walks.
With Greg Maddux at the plate, Braves manager Bobby Cox called
for a squeeze bunt on a 1-2 count. Maddux bunted through the pitch
and Ryan Klesko was caught in a rundown to end the inning.
Hershiser left after hitting Bret Boone with one out in the
seventh. That's when Valentine really put his relievers to work,
using four in a four-batter span.
Turk Wendell struck out Chipper Jones on three pitches, with
pinch-runner Otis Nixon stealing second on the last pitch. After
Wendell fell behind Jordan 2-0, Valentine brought in Dennis Cook to
complete the intentional walk.
By bringing in the left-hander then, Valentine could take Cook
out as soon as Bobby Cox pinch hit for the lefty-swinging Klesko.
"I don't ask questions," Cook said. "I just pitch when they
tell me to pitch."
Pat Mahomes came on and walked pinch-hitter Brian Hunter before
getting Andruw Jones to fly out to left.
Franco came on with two on and two outs in the eighth and
got Lockhart to ground out. Franco pitched a scoreless ninth and
Armando Benitez pitched the 10th.
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ALSO SEE
Amazin' Mets win 4-3 in 15 innings
Mets vs. Braves series page
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