Remembering Mets History (1990) "Sweet Music" Frank Viola Sets Franchise Record With Nine Straight Wins
Things had slowly going sour for the Mets, since the '86 Championship Season. They had only made the post season one more time (1988) in the 1980's not living up to the expectations put on them. They began 1990 looking to top the NL East once again. The pitching staff was led by Dwight Gooden, David Cone, Sid Fernandez, Ron Darling & Frank Viola. The Mets had acquired Frank Viola during the 1989 season. The Long Island native & St. John's alumni was certainly a local boy. At the time he was the AL's current reigning Cy Young Award winner. After starting out at 3-5 he won his last two starts of the 1989 season. On September 29th he pitched a 7-2 complete game win in Pittsburgh. April 11th 1990: In 1990 Viola started the third game of the season shutting out the Pirates for 7.2 innings at Shea Stadium, allowing five hits with eight strike outs earning his first win over Pittsburgh's John Smiley. Greg Jefferies & Kevin McReynolds both homered with Darryl ...