Remembering Mets History (1986) NL-RBI Leader Gary Carter Has Muti-Four RBI Game in Win Over Cubs

Friday June 20th 1986: Davey Johnson's had lost their lost two games, dropping two of three in Montreal. This came after a seven game win streak, thier third win streak of seven or more games so far this season.

 

New York (45-18) were in first place  proudly holding a ten game lead atop the division.

Tonight 44,817 came out to Shea Stadium as the Mets hosted Gene "the stick" Michael's last place Cubs (25-38) as Sid Fernandez (7-2) went up against Scott Sanderson (3-4). The previous year the Mets were 9-0 vs the Cubs at Shea Stadium.

Sid Fernandez got thru the first three innings with out allowing a run or a hit.

In the top of the 4th, with one our Ryne Sandberg singled, then Sid walked Keith Moreland & threw a wild pitch advancing the runners. Leon Durham then hit an RBI sac fly & Ron Cey added an RBI base hit giving Chicago a 2-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the 5th, the Mets got three straight singles from Mookie Wilson, Wally Backman & Keith Hernandez who drove in the first run. Gary Carter then tied the game up with a sac fly to centerfield.

In the home 6th inning, Keith Hernandez his fifth HR of the season, a solo shot putting New York
ahead. The Shea Crowd cheered as he came out for a curtain call. Keith had two hits in the game, after having gone hitless in his last four games. He also had not driven in a run in five games having a multi-two RBI night.

In the bottom of the 7th inning, Ray Knight led off with a triple. Cubs pitcher Ray Fontent who had just relieved Scott Sanderson, then threw a wild pitch, easily scoring Knight  giving the Mets a 4-2 lead. Kevin Mitchell then walked & pinch hitter Ed Hearn reached on an error by Fontent on a sacrifice bunt.

Jay Baller was brought in to pitch for Chicago. Tim Teufel then doubled scoring Ed Hearn with his 20th RBI of the season, making it 6-2 New York. Darryl Strawberry was walked intentionally putting two men on for "the Kid" Gary Carter. 

Multi- Four RBI Game: Carter blasted the three run HR, blowing the game open to 9-3. It was Carters team leading 13th HR of the season. It was Carter's turn to come out for the curtain call to the Shea Fans.

Kid Trivia: Over his last nine games, Carter was hitting .355  with five HRs & 14 RBIs, driving in runs in seven of those games. It was Carters third game with four or more RBIs on the season, his second of the month. He was now tied with Chili Davis of the Giants for NL RBI lead (48).

In the big 7th inning, the Mets sent ten men to the plate as they put up seven runs, with just three hits, three walks & a Cub error.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, Ed Hearn who stayed in the game to catch, replacing Gary Carter hit a solo HR to top off the 10-3 Mets win. It was Hearn's second HR of the year, his second HR of the week.

Sid Fernandez earned the victory to get to 8-2, he gave up two runs on seven hits striking out five with two walks. Roger McDowell came on in the 8th, gave up a run on three hits closing it out for a 10-3 win.