Remembering Mets History (1988): Mets Smack Six HRs On Opening Day

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Monday April 4th 1988: After the 1986 Championship season, Mets fans expected lots more World Series with the powerful lineup & fine pitching the team possessed in the mid to late 1980's.

After failing to make the playoffs in 1987, there was lots of optimism for 1988. This squad did win the N,L, East but lost an upsetting NLCS to the eventual World Champion Dodgers.

 Opening Day began in Montreal where 55,413 fans came to Stade Olympique, to see their hone town Expos take on the New York Mets. Many Mets fans made the journey, but the Expo fans came out because they had lots of optimism as well.

The Expos were a fine team, finishing .500 in 1987 & would win 85 games in 1987. The opening day starters were the Mets Dwight Gooden taking on Montreal's, Dennis Martinez. Gooden would make eight Opening Day starts for the Mets winning six.

Starting Lineups


Montreal Expos
1Tim RainesLF
2Mitch WebsterCF
3Hubie BrooksRF
4Tim Wallach3B
5Andres Galarraga1B
6Tom Foley2B
7Luis RiveraSS
8Jeff ReedC
9Dennis MartinezP


The Mets put two on in the 1st inning but, Lenny Dykstra got picked off first & Keith Hernandez grounded into a double play. The Expos got a run in the home 1st, on former Met Hubie Brooks RBI single.

In the Mets 2nd, Darryl Strawberry began the Mets six HR day with a solo shot to start his season & the inning. In the 3rd Kevin McReynolds drove in his first run of the day with an RBI single, making it 2-1 Mets.

In the 4th inning, Mets short stop Kevin Elster hit a two run HR, scoring Howard Johnson who had singled. The Mets had a 4-1 lead, but Montreal came back to tie it beating up Gooden by the 5th inning. Gooden had allowed ten hits as well as the four runs & only struck out one. He was replaced by David Cone.

In the 6th, Gary Carter singled & pinch hitter Dave Magadan walked. Lenny Dykstra connected with a three run HR Putting the Mets ahead 7-4. By this time Dykstra was  trying to hit more HRs, after another off season where he said he had done push ups all winter while watching TV at home.

In the 7th inning, the Mets greeted new pitcher Randy St. Claire with back to back HRs by Darryl Strawberry (his second of the day) & Kevin McReynolds. 

 McReynolds would add another HR in the top of the 9th as well, giving him a two HR day along with Straw.

The Mets totaled six HR & 13 hits on their way to the 10-6 win. Gooden got the win, Cone the hold & Randy Meyers his first save of the season.

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