Remembering Mets History: (1986) Doc Gooden Tosses Two Hitter Against Astros

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Tuesday May 6th 1986: Davey Johnson's New York Mets were on a great start for the 1986 season. The Mets were in first place, on a four game win streak with a 17-4 record.

Tonight they would host the team they would face in that year's NLCS classic, Hal Lanier's Houston Astros. The Astros were also in first place at 15-9 trying to end a three game losing streak. Tonight's starting pitchers were two good ones, Dwight Gooden (4-0) against Bob Knepper (5-0) in front of a big Shea crowd of 41,722.

Starting Lineups

Houston Astros       New York Mets
1Bill Doran2B1Kevin MitchellCF
2Craig ReynoldsSS2Tim Teufel2B
3Jose CruzLF3Keith Hernandez1B
4Glenn Davis1B4Gary CarterC
5Denny Walling3B5Darryl StrawberryRF
6Alan AshbyC6George FosterLF
7Kevin BassCF7Ray Knight3B
8Terry PuhlRF8Rafael SantanaSS
9Bob KnepperP9Dwight GoodenP

Dwight Gooden would not have one of his biggest strike out nights tonight, fanning seven but started out with two strike outs in the 1st inning. Both pitchers held each others teams hitless until the 4th inning when Keith Hernandez doubled but was left stranded on second base.

In the top of the 5th, Glen Davis broke up Gooden's bid for a no hitter with a base hit. With two outs he then walked Kevin Bass, it was the only time except for the 9th inning when two men would reach base.

In the bottom of the 5th George Foster hit his first HR of the year, putting the Mets ahead 1-0. In the 7th the Mets started out with Foster drawing a walk. With one out Rafael Santana reached on a Houston error, then Dwight Gooden helped his own cause with a triple bringing in both runners giving him a 3-0 lead. Kevin Mitchell then singled bringing Doc in making it 4-0.

It was all they needed, Gooden went to the 9th inning before allowing his second hit of the night. He also served up his second walk & had Jose Cruz reach on a Tim Teufel error at second. But with one out & the bases loaded Gooden got Greg Davis to ground into a double play ending the game.

Gooden went to 5-0 on the season with a 1.04 ERA. He would go 17-6 on the year with 200 strike outs posting a 2.84 ERA.

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