Remembering Mets History: (1988) Mets Seven Game Win Streak & Benches Clear in L.A.

Davey Johnson's first place Mets (29-11) came into Los Angeles riding a four-game win streak after having swept the Padres in San Diego. They began the California road trip losing three in San Francisco. The Mets were 4.5 games in front of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL East. 

Tommy Lasorda's Dodgers (22-16) were in second place just one game behind the Houston Astros. 

In the series opener Sid Fernandez held the Dodgers to a run over 6.1 innings, striking out seven. In the 8th, Roger McDowell came on giving up a run & Randy Myers closed out the game earning his sixth save.

The Mets scored four runs off Don Sutton, led by Howard Johnson's sixth HR & RBI hits from Mookie Wilson & Gary Carter.

On Saturday, Doc Gooden threw a four-hit shutout getting to 8-0 lowering his ERA to 2.77, having one of the best starts to a season any Mets pitcher has ever had. 

That year he would be the NL's All-Star Game starting pitcher in Cincinnati. Gooden would finish the year at 18-9 (5th most wins in NL) with 175 strike outs (8th most in the NL) posting a 3.19 ERA.

For the Mets, in the 2nd inning Howard Johnson singled, Mookie Wilson doubled & Dave Magadan drew an intentional pass.  Gooden drove in the Mets first two runs with a two-run single. 

In the 5th, Lenny Dykstra doubled, Keith Hernandez delivered an RBI single scoring Dykstra, with Keith advancing to second. Kevin McReynolds followed with an RBI single making it 4-0.

Drama: In the bottom of the 5th inning, Dwight Gooden hit Dodger short stop Alfredo Griffin, on the hand with a pitch. He had to be removed from the game with a fracture. 

In the top of the 6th, Howard Johnson led off & was hit by a pitch from Brian Holton. Tensions were in the air, but cooler heads prevailed as nothing came of it. Things would get heated in the series finale.

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Sunday May 22, 1988: On Sunday afternoon 44,826 filled Dodger Stadium as the Mets David Cone (5-0) went up against Fernando Valenzuela (3-4).

David Cone had started the season in the bullpen where he collected two wins (2-0) in seven appearances in April. In May he was put into the rotation & in his first start threw a shut out over the Braves. He won his first three starts getting to 5-0 with one of the league's best ERAs at 1.79 with 38 strike outs in 40.1 innings.

For Fernando Valenzuela, 1988 would be the first year in his career where he went on the disabled list, as he suffered shoulder issues.

In the top of the 1st, New York wasted no time hitting Valenzuela, Mookie Wilson led off with a
base hit, advanced on a fielder's choice & stole third base. Keith Hernandez brought him in with an RBI single. Darryl Strawberry followed hitting his 11th HR of the season, making it 3-0.

In the top of the 2nd, Wally Backman singled & advanced on David Cone's sacrifice. With two outs Kevin Elster drew a walk. Keith Hernandez then collected his second RBI single of the day with a base hit to right field. Darryl Strawberry followed with an RBI single scoring Elster, for his third run driven in, making it 5-0 New York.

David Cone held the Dodgers scoreless thru the first five innings. He had given up three hits & three walks along the way.

In the bottom of the 6th, with tensions still high from the previous night, Cone threw a pitch high & tight to Dodger cleanup hitter Pedro Guerrero. Pedro unhappy with the pitch stared back at Cone. The next pitch was inside just above the waist. The two exchanged dirt glances at each other.

After Guerrero fouled off a pitch, Cone threw a 75-mph curve ball that bounced off Guerrero's shoulder near his head. 

Guerrero flung his bat toward Cone & when Cone barked back to him, he charged the mound.
Guerrero was held back from behind by Mets catcher Barry Lyons & Howard Johnson who quickly moved in from third base.

Both benches cleared, words were exchanged but no punches were thrown. Eventually calm prevailed & everyone cooled down. Guerrero was ejected from the game.

Suspension & Fine: After the game, National League President Bartlett Giamatti suspended Guerrero for four games & issued him a $1000 fine. Guerrero stated that he was just trying to brush back Cone the same way Cone had thrown close to him.

When play resumed, Cone gave up a double to John Shelby. Then a passed ball allowed Jeff Hamilton, who came in to run for Guererro to score. Then a sac by Franklin Stubbs scored Shelby making it a 5-2 Mets lead.

The Mets Roger McDowell came on in the 7th & finished off the game pitching three scoreless innings to earn his fifth save. 

David Cone got the win, besting his record to 6-0 with a 1.75 ERA. 

David Cone Trivia: By the end of May, he would win his first seven decisions. That year he went 20-3 with a 2.22 ERA, having the best season of his career.

The Mets would sweep the series in L.A. & finish up a seven-game win streak. They would best the Dodgers in all of that year's regular season matchups, then get upset by them in a seven game NLCS. The Dodgers went on to beat Oakland in the World Seres as well.