Remebering Mets History: Two Sid Fernandez Gems (1985 & 1989)

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Monday September 1st, 1986: With Davey Johnson's first place Mets (88-43) just counting down a magic number to clinching an NL East title, Sid Fernandez took on Kelly Downs, of Roger Craig's third place San Francisco Giants (65-66) in front of  44, 272 at Shea Stadium.

 El Sid began the game with a pair of strike outs in the 1st inning. He then struck out all six outs of the next two innings as well. 

In the 5th inning he struck out the side in order. In the 7th while holding a two run lead, he allowed a walk to Dan Gladden & a triple to Robbie Thompson. Candy Maldanado singled as well tying up the game. As for the three outs in the inning, Fernandez struck them all out.
Fernandez was on pace for a possible record setting night, but he allowed four walks & was removed in the 7th inning. He finished his night with 7 innings pitched, two runs, four hits, 14 strike outs & four walks.

 The Mets had scored runs with RBI singles from Gary Carter & Rafael Santana. With the score tied in the 8th, Wally Backman drew a walk off Mark Davis. Carter was intentionally walked, & with one out Mookie Wilson singled home Backman. Danny Heep walked & Howard Johnson singled to score Carter, as the Mets went on to a 4-2 win.

Roger Mcdowell collected the win. The 14 Ks were a season high for Sid Fernandez who would go 16-6 (7th in the NL in wins) with 200 strike outs (4th in the NL) & a 3.52 ERA in the 1986 Championship season.
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Thursday September 21st, 1989: Davey Johnson's Mets (80-72) were barley alive in the pennant race 5 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs & one game behind the St. Louis Cardinals. Tonight they visited the Cardinals in front of 36,600 at Busch Stadium.

Sid Fernandez came into the game at 11-5  & went up against Ricky Horton. El Sid was on tonight, as he struck out 13 Cardinals in a two hit, one run complete game performance. It was in the 5th inning Sid gave up a triple to Terry Pendleton & then an RBI base hit to a young Todd Zeile.

Other than that the Cards were hitless in the other eight innings. Fernandez who at times could have control problems, walked no one on this night. He struck out nine of the eleven different batters he faced that night as well.

The Mets offense knocked Horton out by the third inning, with a four run inning. Sid singled to start it off, then Greg Jefferies walked. Howard Johnson singled to load up the bases. Singled by Kevin McReynolds & Darryl Strawberry made it 3-0. Juan Samuel added with a sac fly. Samuel added an RBI later in the 8th inning. 

In the top of the 9th, not only was Sid going for a complete game as he came to bat, but he delivered with a solo HR off Dan Quisenberry, capping off the 6-1 win. It was the only HR of his career. That year he also drove in eight runs, one less than his career high nine, the previous season. In his career Sid batted .182 with 1 HR & 34 RBIs.


 That season he went 14-5 leading the league in winning %. He struck out 198 batters (3rd in the NL) posting a 2.83 ERA (9th best in the NL).

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