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, where Mike Scott out dueled Dwight Gooden, the Mets seeked revenge to even out the Series. The hostile Astrodome crowd of 44,391 were loud & excited at their chances to go up 2-0 over the hated Mets.

  Starting Lineups

	New York Mets				Houston Astros
1	Lenny Dykstra	CF		1	Billy Hatcher	CF
2	Wally Backman	2B		2	Bill Doran	2B
3	Keith Hernandez	1B		3	Phil Garner	3B
4	Gary Carter	C		4	Glenn Davis	1B
5	Darryl Strawberry	RF		5	Kevin Bass	RF
6	Mookie Wilson	LF		6	Jose Cruz	LF
7	Ray Knight	3B		7	Alan Ashby	C
8	Rafael Santana	SS		8	Dickie Thon	SS
9	Bob Ojeda	P		9	Nolan Ryan	P

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.

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

In the 5th, Rafael Santana & Dykstra both reached base with base hits. With two outs, Wally Backman singled to centerfield making it 3-0. Keith Hernandez then delivered a bases clearing triple on a line drive in the centerfield gap, making it 5-0 Mets.

It was all they needed for the win, tying up the series heading back home to New York.

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

Bobby Ojeda tags Out Kevin Bass at Home