Remembering Mets History: (1989) Frank Viola Outduels Orel Hershiser 1-0 in Historical Matchup
It was the reigning World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers sending Orel Hershiser to the mound hosting the New York Mets & Frank Viola.
Viola had been the A.L. Cy Young winner in 1988, one year after earning the World Series MVP for that years World Champions, the 1987 Minnesota Twins. Viola came to New York that season on the July 31st trade deadline.

The Mets were in third place (70-60) three & 1/2 games back of the Chicago Cubs. The Dodgers had fallen to fifth place at 62-69.
A crowd of 38,820 came to Dodger Stadium to witness this classic pitching matchup that was all it was billed to be.
Starting Lineups
New York Mets | Los Angeles Dodgers | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gregg Jefferies | 2B | 1 | Jose Gonzalez | CF | |
2 | Juan Samuel | CF | 2 | Willie Randolph | 2B | |
3 | Howard Johnson | 3B | 3 | Mickey Hatcher | LF | |
4 | Darryl Strawberry | RF | 4 | Eddie Murray | 1B | |
5 | Kevin McReynolds | LF | 5 | Mike Marshall | RF | |
6 | Keith Hernandez | 1B | 6 | Jeff Hamilton | 3B | |
7 | Barry Lyons | C | 7 | Dave Anderson | SS | |
8 | Kevin Elster | SS | 8 | Mike Scioscia | C | |
9 | Frank Viola | P | 9 | Orel Hershiser | P |
The Mets did scatter eight hits off Hershiser but no more runs in his eight innings of work. He walked one & struck out four.
Viola had his best outing of that season for the Mets. He pitched the complete game shut out, allowing just three hits while striking out five & walking no one.
Trivia: Viola would go 5-5 for the Mets that year with a 3.38 ERA. The next season he would win twenty games (20-12) leading the NL in starts (35) & innings pitched (249).
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