October 11, 2000: Game One of the NLCS

From The Met Wiki

Date: October 11, 2000

Mets starter: Mike Hampton

Mets: 6

Cardinals: 2

Winning pitcher: Mike Hampton

Key player(s): Mike Hampton

Key play: Piazza'a double, Alfonzo single

The Mets were in their second consecutive National League Championship Series. It began in St. Louis, making it the sixth time the Mets would start the NLCS on the road in as many appearances in their history. Behind Mike Hampton's seven scoreless innings, the Mets took a one-game lead with a 6-2 win over the Cardinals.

Hampton held the Redbirds to six hits in picking up the win. He got first inning run support on Mike Piazza's RBI double and Robin Ventura's sacrifice fly off the Cards' Darryl Kile. In the fifth, Hampton scored himself when Edgardo Alfonzo singled him home for a 3-0 lead.

In the ninth, the Mets added three more runs. Todd Zeile led off with a home run and Jay Payton connected for a two-run homer to extend the Met lead to six. The Cardinals scored twice in their half of the inning, which was enough only to avoid a shutout. The Mets had the initial Series lead.