Remembering Mets History (1988) Keith Hernandez Drives In Seven Runs - Hits 7th Career Grand Slam & Drives in 1000th Career RBI

Tuesday, April 26, 1988: On this night, Davey Johnson's second place Mets (12-6) visited Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, to face Chuck Tanner's last place Atlanta Braves (3-14). 

The pitchers for tonight's game were the Mets Dwight Gooden facing a young Braves pitcher named Tom Glavine. 

Glavine was just 22 years old & in his second season. He had gone 2-4 in nine games the previous year & was on his way to leading the league in losses in 1988 with 17. His Hall of Fame success was still to come.

Keith Hernandez, the Met first baseman had a fantastic night one of his biggest in his Mets career. He hit two HRs, one a grand slam driving in seven runs, including a career milestone 1,000th RBI.



In the bottom of the 1st inning, the Braves Ron Gant reached on Darryl Strawberry's error in right field. Dale Murphy then doubled giving the Braves a 1-0 lead. 

In the top of the 2nd, Gary Carter homered for the Mets, to tie the game. It was Carter's seventh HR of the season; he would hit another HR on May 16 which was his career #299th HR. But a slump would have him wait three months before he could reach the 300th career HR. He would hit just 11 HRs on the year.

In the 3rd, Gooden walked Dion James, then Ron singled putting two men on. Ken Griffey's two run double put Atlanta ahead again 3-1.

In the top of the 4th, with one out Kevin McReynolds doubled & Gary Carter walked. Howard Johnson then flew out to center. With two outs, Kevin Elster doubled to right to narrow the Braves lead to 3-2.

In the home 4th, Gooden allowed a single to Ken Oberkfell & an RBI double to Paul Runge, putting the Braves up 4-2.

Keith Hernandez had started out the game, by going 0-2. In the top of the 5th inning, he came to
bat with Mookie Wilson aboard. Keith blasted a two run HR off Tom Glavine, to tie up the game at four. It was his first HR of the year, as he would hit 11 in the 1988 season.

Tom Glavine was done after five innings, giving up four runs on five hits & two HRs.

In the top of the 7th, Kevin Elster singled & Mookie Wilson brought him in with a double off pitcher Jim Acker. Mookie advanced on Tim Teufel's single. Keith Hernandez then grounded out on a force play which scored Mookie Wilson with the Mets sixth run. It was Keith's third RBI of the night.

In the top of the 8th inning, with the Mets ahead 6-4, Gary Eave was the Braves new pitcher. Kevin McReynolds walked & Gary Carter singled.  Howard Johnson & Kevin Elster both collected RBI base hits to make it an 8-4 game.

Former Mets pitcher, Charlie Puleo came in to pitch for Atlanta. He walked Mookie Wilson to load the bases & then walked Tim Teufel bringing in a run to make it 9-4 Mets.

Grand Slam: Keith Hernandez then came up with the bases loaded, facing Charlie Puleo. Hernandez ripped a liner to centerfield that went over the fence for a grand slam HR. 

It was the seventh & final grand slam HR of Hernandez's career. His last one had come the previous September off the Pirates Vicente Palacios in a 5-4 Mets win. The four runs from the grand slam, gave Hernandez seven RBIs on the night. He now reached a career milestone, surpassing 1000 RBIs.  The seven RBIs were the most he ever had in a single game in his Mets career.

After the grand slam, the game was a blow out with a 13-4 Mets lead. Dwight Gooden would go the distance, earning the win to go to 5-0 on the young season. Tom Glavine did not get a decision as the loss went to Jack Acker. 

Glavine got roughed up for four runs, five hits & three walks in just two innings of work. 

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