Mets Once in a Lifetime Moment: Citi Field hosts the 2013 All-Star Game

The New York Mets have hosted the All-Star Game twice. Their current home, Citi Field, did so most recently on July 16, 2013.

The New York Mets have been around since 1962 and in those 50+ seasons hosted the All-Star Game just twice. On average, a team should expect to host every 30 years with the site changing each season. Long overdue from when the All-Star Game took place at Shea Stadium in 1964, the Mets got their second crack at it in this once in a lifetime franchise moment when the Midsummer Classic took place at Citi Field.

The date was July 16, 2013. After four straight losing seasons, the Mets were finally beginning to show signs of a brighter future ahead. Though finished with the same 74-88 record from one season earlier, there were more hints at some young talent. The best of it was on the mound this night to start the game.

The game itself had plenty of hype. Matt Harvey’s stellar first half made him a top candidate to start the game for the National League. As a player of the host team, it made even more sense to capitalize on putting him on the mound for inning one.

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Joining Harvey on the field for this game, the Captain David Wright took his spot at third base. Wright also had All-Star worthy numbers and received some help from the New York fans who voted him into the starting lineup.

The stage was set for a once in a lifetime Mets moment. For the first time in 49 years, the All-Star Game took place at the stadium the Mets called home.

Harvey’s night didn’t get off to the best start. Mike Trout doubled to leadoff the game. The next batter, Robinson Cano, was hit by a pitch. He did exit the game for a pinch-runner, quickly ending his evening.

In front of fans who knew just how great he was in those early years, Harvey bared down. He struck out Miguel Cabrera then got Chris Davis to fly out to center field. To end the inning, future Met Jose Bautista went down swinging.

A one-two-three inning from Max Scherzer in the bottom of the first led into the same result from Harvey in the top of the second. The Dark Knight got David Ortiz to fly out before fanning Adam Jones. For the final out, Joe Mauer hit a line drive to left field.

Harvey’s night was done after this. After facing four potential Hall of Famers, he held the American League scoreless for two frames.

Wright received his shot against Chris Sale in the bottom half of the second. A groundout to third base on the first pitch quickly disposed of his chances of getting on base. Versus Felix Hernandez in the bottom of the fourth, the result was the same. This time, instead of leading off the inning, Wright ended it with a groundball to third.

Because the game was in New York, Wright stayed in a little longer than most position players would. He got a third at-bat in the seventh inning and thank goodness he did. With one out, Wright singled to left field against Greg Holland. Two quick strikeouts after ended the inning. It was the end of Wright’s night.

The American League ended up scoring three runs in this affair with the National League putting up a goose egg. The final score of 3-0 included just three hits from the National League. A single from former Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran and a double off the bat of Paul Goldschmidt accounted for the only other hits of the game.

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If we’re lucky, Citi Field will host another All-Star Game at some point in the future. Until then, I hope you were there because it looks like a once in a lifetime Mets moment.