What record did pitcher Bobby J help the Mets set?
Robert Joseph Jones (born February 10, 1970 in Fresno, California) is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. His career spanned from 1993 through 2002. He pitched for two teams, the New York Mets, and the San Diego Padres. He attended the same high school as another notable Mets pitcher, Tom Seaver. Jones was selected by the Mets with the 36th pick in the 1st round of the 1991 amateur draft. He was a compensatory pick the Mets received when Darryl Strawberry left the team as a free agent. He made his major league debut on August 14, 1993 against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he picked up a win, allowing one run over six innings. By 1994, Jones had emerged as a mainstay in the Mets starting rotation. His 12 wins and 3.15 earned run average placed him among the league leaders. In 1995, he led the team in wins and strikeouts. 1997 was a breakout year for Jones. He raced out to an early 10-2 record by June, and appeared in his first and only All-Star Game. He p
Selected to start the 4th and potentially clinching game of the National League Division Series against the San Francisco Giants, Jones delivered the finest outing of his career. Masterfully mixing his 85 MPH fastball and 65 MPH curveball, Jones kept the Giants’ potent lineup thoroughly baffled all afternoon. Jones retired the Giants in order in 8 out of 9 innings, allowing only a 5th-inning double to Jeff Kent. His one-hit shutout clinched the series and sent the Mets on to the National League Championship Series. It also set a Mets’ record for fewest hits allowed in a post-season game, besting Jon Matlack’s two-hitter in the 1973 NLCS. Jones went on to make starts in both the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals and in the World Series against the New York Yankees. However, Mets management allowed him to leave via free agency following the 2000 season, and he signed with the San Diego Padres, where he posted two marginal years before retiring following the 2002 season. Sources:
