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April 20, 1996
Mets 4, Rockies 3
1996 Regular Season Game 16
April 21, 1996
Rockies 6, Mets 4
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April 22, 1996
Mets 5, Reds 1
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National League Standings, April 21, 1996

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Thru This Game

METS FANS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF THE APRIL 21, 1996 GAME:

Dave VW
July 6, 2023
The Mets had a comeback victory well in hand, rallying for 2 runs in the 8th on a Lance Johnson triple to take a 3-2 lead. But John Franco, in all too familiar fashion, blew it in the 9th, allowing the Rockies to bring 10 batters to the plate and score 4 times. It was already his 3rd blown save, and it was only the Mets' 16th game of the season! That put him on a pace to blow 30 saves in 1996, which is quite ridiculous.

But even though he gave up 3 singles and 3 walks in the inning, I don't peg the loss entirely on ol' Johnny boy. The Mets also committed a few errors behind him, with Johnson charged with 2 when he booted Walt Weiss' RBI single, allowing Trinidad Hubbard to score, then another when his throw home was errant, allowing the runners to move up a base. Jeff Kent had another error later on that allowed the final run of the inning to score. Not to mention, Franco had just worked 2 innings the previous day, and was the only member of the bullpen to work that game. So Dallas Green probably would have been best served going with someone else to nail down the save -- especially considering it was the bottom of the Colorado order due up in the 9th, so it shouldn't have been too difficult for a well-rested pitcher to navigate.

Nonetheless, Franco's implosion negated a very strong start from Jason Isringhausen, whose only mistake over 8 innings was serving up a 2-run homer to Ellis Burks -- despite some uncharacteristic wildness, as he walked 5 and hit 2 batters. However, he also rung up 8 strikeouts, which set a new career high at the time. His counterpart, Armando Reynoso, was not to be outdone. He faced the minimum through 5 innings and only allowed 1 run on 3 hits over 7, but was mysteriously removed from the game after just 76 pitches. The Colorado bullpen immediately blew it, with Johnson arguably getting his biggest hit as a Met to that point with his 2-out, 2-run triple. It was already his 4th triple of the season, and he'd go on to collect a still team-record 21 (a mark I doubt will ever be broken).

So far, 1996 was beginning just like 1995: high hopes and promise, but nothing but poor play and disheartening losses to show for it.



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