My Memorable Moments at Shea: Part 2

Following my first game at Shea, it would be another two years until I was able to go again. My second game was on August 8th, 2007. The Mets were set to square off against the rival Braves. I went with my brother and my sister, who were going to Shea for their first time each.

Orlando Hernandez vs. John Smoltz. Boy was I in for a great pitching match up. Even though being a die hard Mets fan, I was really excited to see John Smoltz pitch in person. And El Duque wouldn't let Smoltz steal the show from him. El Duque wouldn't allow a hit until the 5th inning. I was really hoping to be there for the first no hitter in Mets history, but that wasn't going to be the case.

Smoltz and El Duque went pitch for pitch and it proved to be the pitching match up that I was hoping for. The Mets got a quick run in the bottom of the first, and it would be the only scoring until the Braves scored 3 in the top of the 6th. Not going to lie, I was feeling pretty down at this point. With the back end of the Braves bull pen being fairly strong, I didn't think we would score again. But then Luis Castillo came up with a huge 2 run double in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game up at 3. We were right back in the game.

Bottom the 8th. Moises Alou steps up to the plate. Now I never liked the Alou signing, and I never expected much from him. I was mostly right, as he was injured for a good chunk of his Mets career. This in my opinion was his true shining moment while in the orange and blue. He stepped to the plate against Rafael Soriano. He quickly got behind 0-2. Next thing I know I hear an absolute blast and the ball is launched out of the park.

Moises Alou had hit only his 5th home run of the year, and probably his biggest. Billy Wagner would come in and load the bases but ended up getting out of the jam and recording his 26th save of the year and the 350th of his career.

The excitement and jubilation from the crowd was unlike anything I've ever felt. It was then that I found out what it felt like to feel like stadium literally shake and move. It was an amazing feeling.