Remembering Mets History (1986) NLCS Game #2- Bobby O Evens Up Series

Thursday October 9th, 1986: NLCS Game #2- Houston Astrodome, Houston Texas.

After a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in Game #1, when Mike Scott out dueled Dwight Gooden, the Mets sought revenge to even out the Series. The hostile Houston Astrodome crowd of 44,391 were loud & excited at their chances to go up 2-0 over the hated Mets.

Davey Johnson's Mets sent their winningest pitcher in 1986 to the mound; Bobby Ojeda (18-5 / 2.57 ERA / .783 Winning %, best in the league) to even it up. Hal Lanier sent future Hall of Famer; Nolan Ryan (12-8 / 194 Ks / 3.34 ERA) to mound.



Bobby Ojeda tags Out Kevin Bass at Home
Bobby Ojeda started the out by striking out the first two Astro batters, Billy Hatcher & Bill Doran. Nolan Ryan held the Mets hitless through the first three innings. 

In the 2nd the Astros, Kevin Bass hit a one out double then Jose Cruz reached on a single. But Ojeda got Alan Ashby to hit a little come backer to the mound, Bass broke for home but Ojeda fielded the ball & tagged out Bass before he reached the plate. He then struck out Dickie Thon to end the inning. 

In the 2nd inning, he struck out the first two batters in Gary Carter & Darryl Strawberry. In the 3rd inning, Ryan struck out the side, fanning Ray Knight, Rafael Santana & Bob Ojeda.

In the of the 4th, with one out, Len Dykstra & Keith Hernandez both singled. Gary Carter then doubled bringing in Dykstra with the Mets first run of the series. Next, Darryl Strawberry hit a sac fly scoring Hernandez making it 2-0 New York & quieting the loud Astrodome.

In the top of the 5th, Rafael Santana & Lenny Dykstra both reached with base with base hits.
With two outs, Wally Backman singled to centerfield scoring Santana making it 3-0 Mets. 

Keith Hernandez then tripled with a line drive in the centerfield gap, both Dykstra & Backman scored making it 5-0 Mets.

In the bottom of the 6th, Glen Davis singled & Ojeda walked Kevin Bass to start the inning. But Ojeda got Jose Cruz to fly out, then Alan Ashby grounded to short & Dickie Thon flew out to right to end the inning.

In the 7th the Astros got their only run on two base hits by Terry Puhl & Phil Garner. Bobby Ojeda shut down the Astros. 

He then retired the side in order in the 8th & after a leadoff single by Thon in the 9th, he got veteran Davey Lopes, pinch hitting to ground into a double play. Bill Hatcher grounded to Ray Knight for the final out.

Ojeda pitched a one run complete game, as he allowed ten hits, walked two & struck out five Astros. Nolan Ryan took the loss allowing all five runs on seven hits, with no walks & five Ks. Houston relievers Larry Anderson, Aurelio Lopez & Charlie Kerfeld closed it out after Ryan.

The Mets went back to New York tied up at one game each.

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