Remembering Mets History (1986): NLCS Game #5: The Kid's Walk Off RBI Single Wins an Extra Inning Thriller

Tuesday October 14th 1986- NLCS Game #5- Shea Stadium, New York:
from center field: It was a rainy Tuesday afternoon, as we pulled out trucks into the yard, when my boss "Big Dom" asked me if I wanted to go to the big game. Sure, but I'm at work & have no ticket! But sure enough he had three free tickets, Paulie, Artie the Hat & myself tore out to Shea Stadium in my burgundy Monte Carlo for Game #5. I had attended the Game #4 loss to the Astros & pitcher Mike Scott, so I was looking forward to this much-needed win. We arrived late due to the weather & traffic as most of the crowd did. But it turned out to be one of the best pitchers' duels & one of the most exciting endings to a game I was ever in attendance for.

A crowd of 54,986 finally arrived at Shea with the series tied at two games each, this was a big game. Two of the game's best pitchers went head-to-head as Hal Lanier sent Hall of Famer; Nolan Ryan to the mound (12-8 / 197 Ks / 3.34 ERA) against the Mets Dwight Gooden (17-6 / 200 Ks / 2.84 ERA).


In the 1st inning, Denny Walling collected a two out single but was stranded as Glenn Davis flew
out to Darryl Strawberry in right. In the top of the 2nd, Kevin Bass & Jose Cruz led off with base hits. But Gooden struck out Alan Ashby & got Craig Reynolds to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

In the top of the 5th inning, with the game still scoreless, Alan Ashby led off with a double down right field.  Craig Reynolds got a ball through the hole between third & short & there were quickly two men on. Nolan Ryan sacrificed but the Mets got the force at second & Ashby couldn't score. Bill Doran then grounded out to second, but Ashby was able to score this time, giving Houston a 1-0 lead. Doran stole second & Billy Hatcher walked. But Gooden got out of it by getting Denny Walling on a fly ball to Mookie Wilson in left.

For Nolan Ryan, he struck out the first two Mets batters in the 1st inning & then struck out Darryl Strawberry & Mookie Wilson in the 2nd. He added another K in the third.

In the 4th inning he struck out Len Dykstra & Keith Hernandez, totaling seven strike outs through the first four innings. Ryan retired the first thirteen Mets batters he faced in the game as well. 

But with one out in the bottom of the 5th, Darryl Strawberry hit a long fly ball down the right field line. The ball wasn't fair by much, but it cleared the foul pole tying up the game. It was Straw's second HR in as many games, tying up the game both times.

 
Ryan retired the next two Mets & six in a row into the 7th inning. With one Keith Hernandez
singled but then Gary Carter flew out
continuing his slump through the series. Strawberry then drew a walk, the only walk issued by Ryan on the day. 

But Mookie Wilson flew out to left ending the inning. Ryan got his team through nine innings, as he allowed the one run on just two hits. He walked one & struck out twelve in an outstanding post season outing, his first since 1980.

For Dwight Gooden after giving up the run in the 5th, he gave up a base hit to Kevin Bass in the 6th. Bass attempted to steal second but was thrown out by Gary Carter. Gooden retired the side in order in the 7th. In the 8th he gave up a leadoff single to Bill Doran. Bill Hatcher bunted to Keith Hernandez moving the runner over. But Doran got caught off second on a liner to left caught by Mookie Wilson, who then threw to Rafael Santana doubling him up.

Gooden retired the side in order in the 9th. In the 10th after getting the first two outs, Terry Puhl reached on an infield hit & then stole second. Gooden then walked Bill Doran. With two on, two outs & the go-ahead runner in scoring position, Billy Hatcher flew to Darryl Strawberry in right ending the inning.

Dwight Gooden also put in an outstanding pitching effort, allowing a run on nine hits with four strike outs & two walks.


The game was now in extra inning & in the hands of the bullpens. For the Mets, Jesse Orosco came on & struck out the first two batters he faced. He retired the side in order in the 11th & 12th innings.

For Houston, Charlie Kerfeld a rather chubby fellow, with dark sunglasses & a cheek full of tobacco, came on to pitch. Kerfeld struck out two Mets in the 0th & retired the first seven batters he faced. Kerfeld went 11-2 with a 2.59 ERA on the year, he had seven saves on the year & had finished off 29 games for Houston. 

In the bottom of the 13th, the pesky Wally Backman reached base with an infield hit. He should have been picked off of first base as he got caught off guard, but Charlie Kerfeld threw the ball away. Backman scampered to second base as the crowd chanted "Let's Go Mets- Let's Go Mets". 

Keith Hernandez was then intentionally walked to get to a slumping, Gary Carter. 

Carter was in a miserable slump, having gone 1-21 in the Series up to that point. But the future Hall of Famer Carter stepped in & took a Kerfeld pitch straight up the middle for a base hit. 

Center fielder Billy Hatcher was playing shallow, he threw the ball on the money to home plate, but there was no way to get the speedy Wally Backman as he crossed the plate & 
scored the game winning run. Shea Stadium went wild. 



Gary Carter was mobbed by his teammates, as he threw a fist in the air in triumph, as well as in relief, as he finally broke the slump. He acknowledged the cheering Shea crowd. It was one of his biggest Mets moments in his Hall of Fame career.

The win sent the Mets back to Houston with a three game to two lead. One more game to win the pennant & get to the World Series. It was quite a game with quite an exciting ending, certainly a Mets classic!



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