Amazing Away Games: Fenway Park. The Omir Santos Game.

Certain Mets have had their one day in the sunshine. Some have had many. If I said "The Darryl Strawberry Game" you would have no idea as to what I was inferring. He had numerous. If I said "The Steve Henderson Game", if you are of a certain age, you know exactly what happened on June 14, 1980.

You also know "The Matt Franco Game" and "The Todd Pratt Game." I'm guessing you could see those moments easily and quickly.

Here is "The Omir Santos Game!"

May 23, 2009. Mets 3, Boston Red Sox 2

Who was Omir Santos? He is the answer to a trivia question. Who hit the first Grand Slam at Citi Field?

Santos was drafted by the Yankees in the 21st round of the 2001 draft. He eventually made his Major League debut with the Orioles in 2008, going 1-10. Do you need your math teacher to help you figure out that average?

He was acquired by the Mets in 2009, and after a few big hits, they traded their other backup catcher, Ramon Castro to the White Sox for the New York aptly named pitcher Lance Broadway.

Santos remained the entire year as the backup to Brian Schneider. Santos finished the season with 7 homers and 40 RBI. He had 73 hits and a .260 average in 300 at bats. Double that production pace over a full season. That's 80 RBI!

He was even named to the Topps Rookie All-Star team!

It's almost like the Mets couldn't deal with success. They went with Rod Barajas and Henry Blanco (Hank White!) in 2010. Santos never played another Mets game. He only had 30 Tiger at-bats and one with Cleveland for the rest of his Major League career.

His Detroit call-up came as a replacement when future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera was attending the birth of a child. Santos later managed in the Cleveland system.

The game on May 23, 2009 had two eventual Hall of Famers in the lineup, Carlos Beltran for the Mets and Big Papi Ortiz for Boston. Do you think Mets starting left fielder Gary Sheffield will get in one day?

Sheffield, Dwight Gooden's nephew, was one of the most feared right handed hitters of his time. Almost 2,700 hits with 509 home runs and almost 1,700 RBI. Oh, yeah, steroid questions and enough behavioral issues to be on 8 teams in 22 years. I say he belongs. Leave your opinion in the comments. That bat plays!

Former World Series hero Josh Beckett started for the "Sawx". He wasn't at his best so far that year with a 5.01 ERA, but he was certainly at his best in this game. He only gave up one unearned run in 8 innings, with that run coming in the first.

With two outs, Beltran hit a squibbler to short and beat it out for a hit. Beckett then picked him off, but first baseman Kevin Youkilis dropped the ball and Beltran took second. Sheffield then hit one of his patented line drive hits to left and the Mets were on the board.

Youkilis was known as the "Greek God of Walks" due to his penchant for getting on base. But get this, he wasn't Greek!

His great great grandfather was a Jewish native of Romania and traveled to Greece to avoid the military and changed his name from Weiner to Youkilis! He later returned to Romania with his new name. Youkilis was raised Jewish and has participated in the WBC with Team Israel.

The Mets immediately gave up the lead in the bottom of the first. Big Mike Pelfrey, 6 ft 7 in, started the game. Pelf was the height of Lebron James but threw like Kevin James.

After giving up singles to Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia, Youkilis drove both in after a double steal put them in scoring position. That was quick!

Pelf and Beckett then hooked up in a real pitcher's duel, with hardly anyone at all getting on base. Beckett pitched 8 innings, giving up 5 hits and only that unearned run.

Pelf pitched seven innings without giving up any more runs.

Jason Bay was hitting fifth for Boston. A Canadian, he was drafted by Montreal in 2000. He was traded to the Mets for Lou Collier in 2002 before the Mets shipped him to San Diego later in 2002 for pitchers Jason Middlebrook and Steve Reed. The Padres traded him to Pittsburgh with old friend Ollie Perez for All-Star Brian Giles. (Not the skinny Mets second baseman of the early 80s).

It was in Pittsburgh that Bay blossomed, winning the first Rookie of the Year in Pirates history. That's saying something, considering Willie Stargell, Dave Parker, Roberto Clemente and blog namesake Ralph Kiner!

Bay had four 100 RBI seasons, including a 36 homer, 119 RBI masterpiece with the Red Sox in 2009. The Mets signed him to a 4 year deal. How could anything go wrong?

Go wrong it did. Blame concussions if you'd like, but he drove in 47 runs in his first year, and by the time his third year with the Mets ended in a .165 average, that was that.

If you didn't know who Bay was, listen to the list Met fans chant when we list great players who fizzled in Flushing. Foster, Baerga, Alomar, Vaughn, and Burnitz usually are mentioned. (I took Bichette off my list. He has been himself since about 6 weeks into the season).

Back to our game, Boston brought in Superstar closer Jonathan Papelbon to close it out. All he had done so far in 2009 was have no blown saves and a 0.95 ERA.

He started the ninth by walking Sheffield. David Wright and Jeremy Reed both struck out and the Mets and Papelbon were down to their last out.

The unknown backup catcher, Santos, was up and drilled the first pitch toward the top of the Green Monster in left! Was it gone? It bounced back on the field and the 40-year-old Sheffield was held at third, Santos to second on the double...or was it?

The umpires convened and Big Joe West slowly walked away and began spinning his right index finger! Gone! HOME RUN SANTOS and the Mets take the lead!

J.J. Putz with only his second (AND LAST) save as a Met, retired the side. He only allowed a walk, to the (Greek?) God of Walks, Youkilis!

Of course, the Mets had played three much more important games in Fenway Park during October of 1986. But fans like myself will still crack a smile at the mention of Omir Santos. It didn't hurt to see Papelbon stewing in the dugout!