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

Thursday October 9th, 1986: NLCS Game #2- Houston Astrodome, Houston Texas. After the heartbreaking 1-0 loss in Game #1, the Mets sought revenge to even out the Series. The hostile Houston Astrodome crowd of 44,391 were loud & excited in hopes of going up 2-0 over the hated Mets.

As broadcaster Keith Jackson commented during the game, a rivalry was starting up between the two teams after just one game.

Davey Johnson sent his winningest pitcher of 1986 to the mound. During the regular season Bobby Ojeda went 18-5 (third most wins in the NL) with the leagues best winning percentage (.783%) & second best ERA (2.57). Dating back to mid August Ojeda was 6-1 with a 2.12 ERA.

Astros manager Hal Lanier sent future Hall of Famer; Nolan Ryan (12-8 / 194 Ks / 3.34 ERA) to mound. After staring out the year at 3-6, Ryan went 9-2 with a 2.24 ERA posting 135 strike outs in 112 innings.

Nolan Ryan picked up where Scott left off in the first game, as he retired the Mets in order over the first three innings.

In the bottom of the 1st inning, Bobby Ojeda started out his first post season appearance by striking out the first two Astro batters, Billy Hatcher & Bill Doran. 

In the top of the 2nd inning, the All Time strike out leader, Nolan Ryan struck out the first two Mets batters in Gary Carter & Darryl Strawberry. In the top of the 3rd Nolan struck out the side, fanning Ray Knight, Rafael Santana & Bob Ojeda.

In the bottom of the 2nd, with one Kevin Bass doubled. Jose Cruz followed with a line drive off Bobby Ojeda's glove putting two men on. Next Alan Ashby hit a chopper back to Ojeda who tagged a charging Kevin Bass from third base for the second out. Ojeda then struck out Dickie Thon looking for the third out.

In the of the 4th, with one out, Wally Backman collected the first Mets hit of the night with a base hit up the middle. Keith Hernandez then blooped a two strike base to centerfield.

Gary Carter then doubled off the right centerfield wall bringing in Backman with the Mets first run of the series. Next, Darryl Strawberry hit a sac fly to left field scoring Hernandez making it 2-0 New York & quieting down what was a Astrodome. 

In the bottom of the 4th, Phil Garner led off with a walk. Garner advanced to second on a fielders
choice then Kevin Bass beat out an infield single to third base. But Ojeda struck out Jose Cruz & got Alan Ashby to ground to Ray Knight at third who handled the play unassisted.

In the top of the 5th, Rafael Santana collected a one out base hit. Bob Ojeda sacrificed but Santana was out at second. 

Ryan Motivates Mets: After Len Dykstra launched a deep foul ball to right field. Nolan Ryan threw a fastball up & in near Dykstra's head sending him to the dirt. Lenny glared back at Ryan but play resumed. Lenny then singled to left field putting Ojeda on third.

Quotes- Davey Johnson: "When Nolan threw the ball up over Dykstra's head I sensed some emotion in our dugout. That inspired us to go out & score more runs."

With two outs, Wally Backman singled into left field, Ojeda came home & scored safely as Kevin Bass's throw was wide getting past the catcher Alan Ashby making it 3-0 Mets. 

Keith Hernandez then drilled a shot past a diving Billy Hatcher going all the way to the wall as both Dykstra & Backman scored making it 5-0 Mets. Hernandez slid into third base with just his second triple of the entire season.

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 Rafael Santana at short & Dickie Thon flew out to right field to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 7th the Astros got their only run of the game, on an RBI single from Phil Garner.

In the top of the 8th, Ojeda retired the side in order with Kevin Bass fluing to left, Jose Cruz popping up to Gary Carter & Alan Ashby grounding back to him on the mound to end the inning.

In the top of the 9th, after a leadoff single by Dickie Thon, veteran Davey Lopes in a pinch hitting role grounded into a double play Santana to Backman to Hernandez. Then Bill Hatcher grounded to Ray Knight for the final out.

Complete Game Win: Bob Ojeda pitched a one run complete game, allowing ten hits with two walks while striking out five.

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 finished it off with four scoreless innings.

The top of the Mets order Len Dykstra, Wally Backman & Keith Hernandez all had multi-two hit games with runs scored. Hernandez also drew two walks & drove in two runs in the win.

Quotes- Davey Johnson: "They are the table setters. when they get on they get things going for us."

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

Quotes- Ray Knight: "We knew we had to come in here & get at least a split. We can go back home now & try to win three or at least two to be in good shape."