With the calendar set to flip to August, the New York Mets had a golden opportunity.
Winners of 19 of 25 in July and trailing the division-leading Montreal Expos by a single game, the Mets arrived in Olympic Stadium for a four-game showdown that could’ve rewritten the United League East standings.
Instead, they leave Quebec licking their wounds—having dropped three of four in painful fashion. The Expos now sit at 72–39, three games clear of the second-place Mets, who fall to 69–42.
Thursday: Harper, Mondesi Stun Mets Late
The tone was set right away.
New York built a 5–2 lead behind timely hits from B.J. Surhoff, Cliff Floyd, and Dave Magadan, but the bullpen couldn’t hold. Brian Harper launched two home runs—including a two-run shot in the seventh to tie it—then Raul Mondesi won it with a walk-off single in the ninth. The Mets stranded 12 and saw Dan Dreifort blow his sixth save of the year.
Final: Expos 6, Mets 5
Friday: Ishii Answers the Call
Takehiro Ishii gave the Mets a glimmer of hope Friday night. The right-hander struck out 13 over 7.1 innings and allowed just four runs. Gary Sheffield notched his 30th homer, and Bret Boone added a two-run blast to lead the offense in a 7–4 victory.
It was the kind of bounce-back win New York needed—and the only one they’d get.
Final: Mets 7, Expos 4
Saturday: Hundley’s Hammer Crushes New York
Saturday’s game was tied 3–3 heading into the ninth, and once again the Mets turned to Dreifort. And once again, he came up short. With two outs and two on, Todd Hundley sent a three-run walk-off homer into the Montreal night. It was his second homer of the game and his 33rd of the season. Just like Thursday, the Mets had a shot—and let it slip.
Final: Expos 6, Mets 3
Sunday: Hundley Ends It—Again
Looking to salvage a split, the Mets led early and carried a 3–3 tie into the bottom of the ninth. But the Expos wouldn’t be denied. With Dreifort on again in relief, Hundley stepped up and smashed another walk-off homer—his second of the series—to complete Montreal’s third comeback win of the weekend.
Final: Expos 6, Mets 3
United League East Standings (as of July 31)
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Expos | 72 | 39 | .649 | — |
| New York Mets | 69 | 42 | .622 | 3.0 |
| Washington Senators | 62 | 49 | .559 | 10.0 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 61 | 50 | .550 | 11.0 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 40 | 71 | .360 | 32.0 |
| Detroit Tigers | 38 | 71 | .349 | 33.0 |
What It Means
The Mets didn’t just lose a series—they lost control of their own fate.
They arrived with a shot to leave in first place. Instead, they leave further behind than when they came, with just three head-to-head matchups remaining against the Expos. Bullpen collapses—in particular from Dreifort, now with seven blown saves—undid what should’ve been a statement road trip.
Todd Hundley’s weekend was one for the books: three home runs, including two walk-offs, and eight RBIs. Brian Harper set the tone in Game 1. The Expos may not have dominated wire-to-wire, but they came through in every critical moment.
The Mets, by contrast, blinked.
Looking Ahead
There’s still time, but it’s running thin. The Mets will need help from around the league—and perfection down the stretch—if they’re going to erase this three-game deficit.
They had the lead. They had the momentum. But in Montreal, when it mattered most, they didn’t have the answers.