» October 5, 2000: The Mets even their series with the Giants at one game apiece by winning a 10-inning thriller, 5-4. Jay Payton's single drives home the winning run in the top of the 10th after J.T. Snow's pinch-hit 3-run home run ties the game in the bottom of the 9th. Edgardo Alfonzo hit a 2-run homer for NY in the top half of the frame. Al Leiter pitches 8+ innings for the Mets. Armando Benitez gives up the tying homer, but gets the win in relief.

» October 11, 2000: The Mets defeat the Cardinals, 6-2, in the opener of the NLCS behind the pitching of Mike Hampton. Todd Zeile and Jay Payton hit 9th-inning homers for New York, whose pitchers had their streak of 26 consecutive scoreless ended by two unearned runs in the 9th.

» October 12, 2000: The Mets defeat the Cardinals, 6-5, to take a 2-games-to-none lead in the NLCS. Jay Payton drives home the winning run for NY, who wins in its last at bat for the 3rd time this postseason. Mike Piazza homers for the Mets.

» October 22, 2000: The Yankees defeat the Mets, 6-5 behind Roger Clemens, to take a 2-games-to-none lead in the World Series. The Mets score five runs in the 9th inning on home runs by Mike Piazza and Jay Payton to throw a scare into the Bombers. In a bizarre incident, Clemens throws a piece of a shattered bat at Piazza in the 1st inning, with both benches clearing. It is the first meeting between the two players since Clemens beaned Piazza during the regular season. On Tuesday, Clemens will be fined $50,000 for his actions.

» July 31, 2002: The Rockies trade P John Thomson and OF Mark Little to the Mets in exchange for OFs Jay Payton and Robert Stratton, and P Mark Corey.