Remembering Mets History (1986) NLCS Game #3: Lenny Dykstra's Walk Off HR Gives Mets 2-1 Series Lead
October 11th 1986 NLCS Game#3- Shea Stadium, New York: On a cool, overcast, fall, Saturday afternoon in New York City, playoff baseball returned to Shea Stadium after 13 long years. 55,052 crazed Mets fans came out for Game Three of the NLCS. The Series left Houston tied at one game each. Mets manager: Davey Johnson sent Ron Darling (15-6 / 2.81 ERA 184 Ks) to the mound to face Houston’s left hander, Bob Knepper (17-12 / 3.14 ERA / 145 Ks). From September on, Ron Darling had gone 3-1 posting a 1.80 ERA. Bob Knepper had won a career high 17 games that year & would end up losing a league high 17 games the next year. In the top of the 1st, Ron Darling was shaky. Bill Doran bounced out to Keith Hernandez to start the game. Billy Hatcher singled then stole second base. Denny Walling then singled to right field bringing in Hatcher with the games first run. Ron Darling threw a wild pitch & then hit Glen Davis with a pitch putting two on....
