Remembering Mets History (1985) Darryl Strawberry Hits Three HRs To Put the Mets In First Place

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Monday August 5th, 1985: Entering today's game, Davey Johnson's New York Mets (62-42) were one half game out of first place behind the St. Louis Cardinals. 

The Cardinals would take a 9-1 loss to the Phillies at Busch Stadium later that night. The Mets win had them taking over first place in the NL East.

 The Mets were in Chicago going up against Jim Frey's fourth place Chicago Cubs (54-50). The Cubs were last year's NL East winners. A crowd of 34, 167 filed into Wrigley Field to see the Cubs Derek Botelho (0-0) go up against New York's Ed Lynch (8-5).

 This was to be one of Mets slugger, Darryl Strawberry's biggest days of the year. The winds of Chicago were blowing in the right direction for Straw on this day, as he would belt three HRs. 


Straw began his big day in the 1st inning. With two outs, Keith Hernandez & Gary Carter both walked. Straw then hit his first of the day, a three-run shot, making it 3-0 Mets. It was his 13th HR of the year.

 In the 3rd, with two men out Strawberry hit a solo HR, also coming off starter Derek Botelho making it 4-0 Mets. 

In the 5th, Wally Backman led off with a double, this at bat Straw was walked intentionally. He & Backman scored on a Danny Heep double making it 6-0 Mets. That finally knocked Botelho out of the game.

Ed Lynch retired the Cubs in order for the first four innings, then surrendered a solo HR to Jody Davis in the 5th.

In the top of the 7th, with New York up 6-1, Straw connected for another solo HR, this one off of reliever, Ron Meredith. It was his third HR of the day & his 15th of the year.

Straw would add a single to his day in the 9th inning. On the day he collected four hits, a season best three homer game, as he drove in five of the seven Mets runs, in the 7-2 win. Eddie Ed Lynch got the win, getting to 9-5 on the year.
At this point the Mets were in the midst of a nine-game win streak, grabbing on to first place in the NL East. 

Trivia: In 1985 Darryl would hit 29 HRs with 79 RBIs & bat .277 playing in 111 games

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