Remembering Mets History (1985): Keith Hernandez Leads Mets In Twenty Hit Attack

Thursday August 8, 1985: Davey Johnson's first place New York Mets (63-42) had just taken over the NL East first place position from the St. Louis Cardinals. Tonight, the Mets were in Montreal, Canada facing Jim Fanning's third place Expos (59-48). 

A Stade Olympique crowd of 24,919 came on to see New York's Rick Aguilera take on, the Expos Joe Hesketh.

In the top of the 1st, short time Mets & MLB veteran, Tom Paciorek walked & stole second. Keith Hernandez, Then singled to make it 1-0 Mets, driving in his first run. In the home 1st, the Expos beat up Aguilera with three hits & a walk, making for three runs putting the Expos ahead 3-1.

In the top of the 2nd, the Mets came back. Ray Knight singled, then pitcher Rick Aguilera doubled, putting runners on second & third. A Wally Backman's fielders choice brought home Knight with the Mets second run. Aguilera was thrown out at third.

Tm Paciorek then doubled putting two men on again. Keith Hernandez followed with another double, bringing in both runs, giving the Mets a 4-3 lead. Gary Carter, followed with  his 14th HR of the year, a two run shot to make it 6-3 Mets.

In the 3rd, Ray Knight & Rafael Santana both singled. Then, Wally Backman tripled, bringing in both runs, making it a 8-3 Mets lead.

In the 4th, Keith Hernandez led off with a base hit, his third hit in as many at bats. George Foster then blasted his 16th HR of the year, making it 10-3 Mets, as the blow out was on.

The Expos got some back off Aguilera in the 4th, starting with base hits by Hubie Brooks & Terry Francona. Tim Wallach doubled bringing in Brooks, Herm Winningham grounded out scoring Francona to make it 10-5.  A sac fly by Mike Fitzgerald made it a 10-6 game. 

In the 5th, Backman singled & Tom Paciorek was hit by a pitch. Next up Keith Hernandez singled, his fourth hit of the night,  scoring Backman. 

Gary Carter also singled bringing in the Mets 12th run as Paciorek crossed the plate. A George Foster base hit brought home Hernandez to make it 13-6 Mets. 

The Mets scoring ended when Darryl Strawberry hit his16th HR of the year, tying Foster for the team lead.

The Mets would win the game 14-7, collecting twenty hits on the night, along with three HRs.

Hernandez led the attack with a five hit game, driving in three runs & scoring three runs, to keep his season average above the .300 mark. 

George Foster had three hits, with a HR with & three RBIs on the night. Wally Backman had two hits, with three RBIs, & scored two runs. 

Tom Paciorek scored three runs on the night, with a walk & base hit. Gary Carter, Ray Knight, Daryl Strawberry & Rafael Santana all had two hits each.

Rick Aguilera did not have a good night, he gave up seven runs in five innings but was bailed out by the Mets bats to earn the win. 

Terry Leach came on to pitch four scoreless innings, getting credit for a save. The Mets won their fourth game in a row as they were in the middle of a nine game winning streak. They would win 12 of 13 in this stretch.