Remembering Mets History: (1986) Doc Gooden Tosses Two Hitter Against Astros
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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bill Doran | 2B | 1 | Kevin Mitchell | CF | |
| 2 | Craig Reynolds | SS | 2 | Tim Teufel | 2B | |
| 3 | Jose Cruz | LF | 3 | Keith Hernandez | 1B | |
| 4 | Glenn Davis | 1B | 4 | Gary Carter | C | |
| 5 | Denny Walling | 3B | 5 | Darryl Strawberry | RF | |
| 6 | Alan Ashby | C | 6 | George Foster | LF | |
| 7 | Kevin Bass | CF | 7 | Ray Knight | 3B | |
| 8 | Terry Puhl | RF | 8 | Rafael Santana | SS | |
| 9 | Bob Knepper | P | 9 | Dwight Gooden | P |
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.