Remembering Mets History (1986) NLCS Game #3: Lenny Dykstra's Walk Off HR Gives Mets 2-1 Series Lead

October 11th 1986 NLCS Game#3- Shea Stadium, New York: On a cool, overcast, fall, Saturday afternoon in New York City, playoff baseball returned to Shea Stadium after 13 long years.  55,052 crazed Mets fans came out for Game Three of the NLCS.

The Series left Houston tied at one game each. Mets manager: Davey Johnson sent Ron Darling (15-6 / 2.81 ERA 184 Ks) to the mound to face Houston’s left hander, Bob Knepper (17-12 / 3.14 ERA / 145 Ks).

From September on, Ron Darling had gone 3-1 posting a 1.80 ERA. Bob Knepper had won a career high 17 games that year & would end up losing a league high 17 games the next year.

In the top of the 1st, Ron Darling was shaky. Bill Doran bounced out to Keith Hernandez to start the game. Billy Hatcher singled then stole second base. Denny Walling then singled to right field bringing in Hatcher with the games first run. 

Ron Darling threw a wild pitch & then hit Glen Davis with a pitch putting two on. 

Darling struck out Kevin Bass then Jose Cruz collected his third hit in as many games, scoring Walling making it 2-0 Houston. 

In the top of the 2nd, it got worse for Ron Darling. With one out Craig Reynolds drew a walk, then after getting the pitcher Bob Knepper for the second out, Bill Doran hit a two run HR making it 4-0 Astros. Doran had hit just six HRs all season.

Houston's Bob Knepper got off to a good start allowing one hit through the first three innings.

In the bottom of the 4th, the Mets got two base runners on with singles from Darryl Strawberry & Keith Hernandez. But with two outs Ray Knight flew out to right field to end the inning.

Ron Darling was finished after five innings, giving up four runs on six hits, with five strike outs & two walks.

Quotes- Davey Johnson: "Darling was a little tentative & not very aggressive like he was during the season. But we all battled back & that's the big thing."

Bob Knepper would shut out the Mets on four hits, holding a four nothing lead into the 6th inning. The usually loud Shea fans were kept quiet as they were just waiting for something to happen.

In the home 6th, Kevin Mitchell singled to start the inning, the first Met to reach leading off an inning that afternoon. Keith Hernandez followed with a base hit to centerfield. 

Keith Trivia: It was Keith's second hit of the game, as well as his fifth of the series. Keith had now hit safely in all three games & had back-to-back multi hit games hitting .429 in the NLCS.

Gary Carter then hit a bouncer to short that stayed down & went under the glove of Craig Reynold allowing Kevin Mitchell to score the Mets first run, making it 4-1 Astros.

The crowd was excited as Darryl Strawberry came to bat. Strawberry delivered with a classic Mets moment, as he hit dramatic high flying three run HR into the right field lodge section that tied the game at four. It was Darryl's second hit of the series, dating back to September 22nd he had now hit seven HRs with 18 RBIs in his last 13 games.

Quotes-  Darryl Strawberry: "That HR really got our team going. We seemed kind of out of it until then. Plus it was my first playoff HR  so it  was very special."

The HR fired up the Mets team, as Keith Hernandez gave a hard friendly shove to both Ray Knight as well as Strawberry at home plate when Straw touched the plate. The Shea crowd went into a wild 1980's frenzy.

In the top of the 7th, Rick Aguilera came on to pitch for the Mets. Aguilera issued a leadoff walk to Bill Doran. Billy Hatcher bunted down to third base, Ray Knight bobbled the ball then threw it away down the right field line putting runners on the corners with no one out. 

Denny Walling then grounded to second base, Tim Teufel hesitated looking at the lead runner Billy Doran running home. That brief delay caused the Mets to only get the lead runner at second as Denny Walling was called safe at first base by umpire Dutch Rennert. Keith Hernandez then Davey Johnson questioned the call but to no avail as the Astros regained the lead 5-4.

Aguilera struck out Glen Davis & Kevin Bass flew out to Mookie Wilson in center to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 7th inning, Davey Johnson sent in Lenny Dykstra as a pinch hitter for Rick Aguilera. In this at bat Dykstra struck out. Kevin Mitchell singled to right field but was left stranded on base. 

In the top of the 8th, Jesse Orosco came on to pitch, Mookie Wilson moved from center to left & Dykstra stayed in the game to play center. Orosco struck out Jose Cruz & retired the side in order.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, Astros set up man, the goofy tobacco chewing Charlie Kerfeld retired the Mets in order, setting up a save opportunity for closer Dave Smith who had posted a career high 33 saves that season.

Quotes- Hal Lanier: "I didn't see any reason not to bring in my number one man. If you get beat with your number two guy you leave your self open to a lot of second guesses. What would you guys write if Dykstra hit that off Kerfield & Smith was still in the bullpen?"

In the top of the 9th, Wally Backman was brought in to play second base. Bill Doran singled & was thrown out trying to steal second. Jesse Orosco walked Billy Hatcher but ended the inning striking out Denny Walling.

In the bottom of the 9th, Wally Backman led off with a controversial bunt base hit down the first baseline. As he ran down the line he stepped out of the base line but came back in to slide head first & touch first base. 

Astro Manager, Hal Lanier argued Backman slid out of baseline to avoid te tag. Home plate Umpire Dutch Rennert asked home plate umpire Frank Pulli for help & he dismissed Lanier's argument ruling Backman safe.

Next, Astros pitcher Dave Smith threw a pitch passed catcher  Alan Ashby & Backman advanced to second base. 

Quotes- Davey Johnson: "That's when I thought the momentum changed. I don't like to bunt & now I didn't have too."

Pinch hitter Danny Heep stepped in & flew out to center for the first out. Now Lenny Dykstra who had been put in the game in the 7th inning came to bat.

Quotes- Mets legendary broadcaster Bob Murphy's radio call: "The man they call Nails. It's a high fly ball hit to right field, its fairly deep its way back, it's by the wall .... it's a HR a HR, the Mets win the ball game. Dykstra hits a HR. Lenny Dykstra being mobbed by his teammates."

Dykstra blasted Dave Smith's pitch into the Mets right field bullpen, ending the game with a dramatic walk off HR. 

Shea Stadium went wild, as did the Mets teammates who went to home plate to greet the hero of the day- Lenny Dykstra.

Dykstra hit what has become one of the most famous HRs in Mets history, putting New York up two games to one in the NLCS. 

Mets Trivia: It was the Mets first walk off HR in the team's post season history. 13 years later in the 1999 NLDS, Todd Pratt would hit a walk HR vs Arizona.

Quotes- Lenny Dykstra: "This is a great feeling. The last time I hit a HR in the bottom of the 9th to win a game, I was playing my strat-o-matic baseball game, rolling dice against my brother Kevin."