This Day in Mets History: The Wilmer Flores 6-hit game against the Cubs

New York Mets infielder Wilmer Flores took his spot at third base on July 3, 2016, on a Sunday afternoon against the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs would go on to win the World Series that fall, but on this day, it was all Wilmer.

Batting sixth in the Mets lineup, Flores and his teammates had to deal with Jon Lester and a Chicago team destined for great things. The two teams showed up for a baseball game. A one-man hitting clinic arrived with it.

The day Wilmer Flores had six-hits for the Mets against the Cubs

It started off with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second for Flores to put his team on top 2-1. He’d be the first and last batter to go against Lester in this inning. He chased the veteran lefty from the game with an RBI single in his second at-bat of the inning.

The hit parade continued for Flores against every pitcher he’d face. Spencer Patton gave up a leadoff single to him to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Flores added his second home run of the day in the bottom of the fifth with two outs. Once again, Patton was the victim.

The game was utterly out of hand when Flores stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. He’d settle for a single this time. It was his fifth of the day. This time, it was Joel Peralta who joined what would become a historic day for the Mets infielder.

At the time, Edgardo Alfonzo owned the record for most hits by a Mets player in a single game. His six hits seemed tough to match. In the bottom of the eighth, with the Mets now leading 13-1 and catcher Miguel Montero throwing the pitches, Flores came up one more time with two outs. Another single was added to the box score. The franchise record was now shared by an equally beloved player who made a career out of hitting in the clutch and playing wherever his team asked him to.