Remembering Mets History (1986) Ray Knight Belts Eric Davis Starting a Classic Brawl in Cincinnati
Tuesday July 22nd, 1986: Davey Johnson's eventual World Champion Mets were riding high 13 games up in first place of the NL East. The team was very confident & very cocky.
The game began quietly, in the top of the 2nd although the Mets loaded the vases they were unable to score. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Scott Terry singled & slugger Dave Parker hit his 21st HR of the season, a two-run shot giving the Reds a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the 9th, Howard Johnson struck out looking, but catcher Bo Diaz dropped the ball. Johnson while running toward first base, accidentally kicked the ball away then reached first base safely as Diaz's throw hit Johnson in the back. The Reds were upset & coach Billy DeMars got ejected for arguing the call.
Another Mets tough guy, a former San Diego street gang member, Kevin Mitchell didn't want to hear anything from Parker & went after him but was stopped when Mario Sotto & Bill Gullickson tackled him. Gullickson & Soto were quickly tossed aside by Mitchell, but karate expert John Denny managed to keep Mitchell down.
In the bottom of the 13th, the Reds veteran Tony Perez hit a fly ball to right field that Orosco made the catch on saying, he squeezed it so hard the stuffing could have come out.
Play resumed, as the game went to the 14th inning. In the top of the 14th, Ed Hearn doubled to center field, then Jesse Orosco drew a walk.
Controversy was still surrounding the club after an incident in Houston where four of the Mets had been arrested at a popular night spot.
On this road trip, tonight the Mets were about to conquer Cincinnati as another on the field brawl would just add to their rowdy legacy.
The Mets (62-28) were at Riverfront Stadium taking on Pete Rose's fourth place Reds (44-47) in front of 23,707 fans as the Mets Bobby Ojeda went up against the Reds Scott Terry.
The Mets (62-28) were at Riverfront Stadium taking on Pete Rose's fourth place Reds (44-47) in front of 23,707 fans as the Mets Bobby Ojeda went up against the Reds Scott Terry.
The game began quietly, in the top of the 2nd although the Mets loaded the vases they were unable to score. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Scott Terry singled & slugger Dave Parker hit his 21st HR of the season, a two-run shot giving the Reds a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the 5th, Rafael Santana drew a walk then was forced, as Bobby Ojeda attempted a sacrifice bunt. Lenny Dykstra than tripled into center field with Bobby O chugging around the bases to score the Mets first run.
In the bottom of the 5th inning, the Reds Buddy Bell hit his sixth HR of the season, putting the Reds up 3-1.
Bell Trivia: The veteran Buddy Bell spent most of his career with Cleveland & Texas, before coming to the Reds (1985-1988) toward the end of his playing career. Buddy was the son of long time Reds player Gus Bell & was born in Cincinnati. Gus was also a short time original 1962 Met. Buddy managed in the big leagues & is father to MLB players /manager David & Mike Bell.
In the top of the 6th, Rob Murphy came in to pitch for Cincinnati, relieving terry who kept the Mets to a run on five hits. To start the inning Darryl Strawberry was called out on strikes. Straw disagreed, argued with home plate umpire Gerry Davis & got ejected from the game.
The game remained tied, as Rob Murphy got the Reds to the 8th inning, when Ron Robinson came on to pitch.
As for the Mets, Bob Ojeda pitched five innings allowing three runs on six hits. In the top of the 7th the Reds put two on, but Randy Meyers got Bell to fly out to end the inning. In the 8th, after Myers walked Dave Parker to start the inning, Davey Johnson went to Doug Sisk who retired the next three batters.
In the top of the 9th, Howard Johnson struck out looking, but catcher Bo Diaz dropped the ball. Johnson while running toward first base, accidentally kicked the ball away then reached first base safely as Diaz's throw hit Johnson in the back. The Reds were upset & coach Billy DeMars got ejected for arguing the call.
HoJo was quickly erased as Mookie Wilson grounded into a double play.
With two outs, Lenny Dykstra walked, then Tim Teufel hit a ground rule double bringing up Keith Hernandez with two runners in scoring position.
The Reds John Franco was brought in to face Hernandez. Hernandez hit a fly ball to left field that should have been the third out, but Dave Parker dropped the ball. The error allowed both Dykstra & Teufel to score tying the game.
Trivia: Dave Parker admitted his anger toward the '86 Mets, saying he would curse out the TV set when he would see watch the team's nightly highlights.
In the top of the 10th of this crazy game, Mets manager Davey Johnson sent up pitcher Rich Aguilera to pinch hit for the pitcher Doug Sisk. Aguilera did draw a walk. Ray Knight then singled to center field. John Franco threw a wild pitch advancing the runners. But Franco struck out Howard Johnson & after walking Mookie Wilson intentionally he struck out Lenny Dykstra to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 10th, Jesse Orosco came in to pitch for the Mets. He started out the inning by striking out Dave Parker. Then player / manager Pete Rose pinch hit & singled to center field. Eric Davis came in to pinch run for Rose. Eric Davis stole second base & then stole third base as Orosco struck out Eddie Milner.
As Eric Davis went into third base, he popped up into Mets third baseman Ray Knight. Ray
Knight the former Gold Gloves Boxer, had already been the center of a few team brawls during the season.
Knight barked at Eric Davis "What's wrong with you" shoving Davis back, trying to push him off the base. Davis said "You pushed me" as he shoved back. Knight said he felt threatened & then punched Davis in the face.
As Eric Davis went into third base, he popped up into Mets third baseman Ray Knight. Ray
Knight the former Gold Gloves Boxer, had already been the center of a few team brawls during the season.
Knight barked at Eric Davis "What's wrong with you" shoving Davis back, trying to push him off the base. Davis said "You pushed me" as he shoved back. Knight said he felt threatened & then punched Davis in the face.
Knight had played for the Reds from 1974 to 1981.
Third base umpire Eric Gregg tried to break it up, holding back Davis. Eddie Milner came running in trying to get to Ray Knight but then grabbed Jesse Orosco.
Eric Davis stepped back & then tried to come back again but Mets catcher Gary Carter tackled him to the ground.
Davis was then pulled away by his coach Tommy Helms.
Big Dave Parker came running over pulling Mets players aside shouting at Knight.
Big Dave Parker came running over pulling Mets players aside shouting at Knight.
The area around third base had a lot of pushing & shoving going on. Ray Knight continued to shout at the Reds wanting to go after more Reds players.
This was not your typical baseball brawl, where the players just milled around until the field was cleared. This one had all kinds of punching & tackling going on.
Ejections: Eventually order was restored, after a long delay as the umpires congregated, Ray Knight, Kevin Mitchell of the Mets were ejected. Eric Davis & Mario Soto of the Reds were also ejected.
Quotes- Manager Davey Johnson: "I want to say we show a lot of fight, but that's not what I mean. We're hard competitors but we're not malicious. We don't like people to cuss us & that's what Davis did. Thats what caused tempers to flare".
The End of George Fosters Mets Career: As the Mets returned to the dugout, they saw George Foster, a former Reds player, sitting there, the lone player or coach who did not involve himself in the mele. Foster later said he did not want to send the wrong message to the kids.
But Foster lost the respect of him team & his manager. This would mark the eventual end of George Foster's Mets career. Davey Johnson a strong advocate of teamwork, only gave Foster three starts in the next two weeks, giving the job to a platoon of Kevin Mitchell, Danny Heep, Mookie Wilson & eventually Lee Mazzilli who soon join the team. On August 7th, Foster was released.
After all the madness in this wild game, the Mets were short of position players. Davey Johnson thought fast & made the only moves he could make. Mets pitcher Roger McDowell went to play right field; Gary Carter went to play third base as Ed Hearn replaced him coming in to catch.
Roger McDowell would switch from right to left field on the next play & eventually relieve Orosco on the mound. At that point Orosco would go out to then play the outfield.
Roger McDowell would switch from right to left field on the next play & eventually relieve Orosco on the mound. At that point Orosco would go out to then play the outfield.
Play resumed, as the game went to the 14th inning. In the top of the 14th, Ed Hearn doubled to center field, then Jesse Orosco drew a walk.
Howard Johnson then hit a three run HR to right field off pitcher Ted Power. It was Hojo's sixth HR of the season.
In the bottom of the 14th inning, Roger McDowell retired the Reds in order on three ground ball outs.
Trivia: This wild game took five hours to play out. It saw the Mets use 22 players & have eight different pitchers take the mound. They also stranded 16 base runners. The Reds also used 22 players on the field with six different pitchers & stranded 11 men on base.
Trivia: This wild game took five hours to play out. It saw the Mets use 22 players & have eight different pitchers take the mound. They also stranded 16 base runners. The Reds also used 22 players on the field with six different pitchers & stranded 11 men on base.