Remembering Mets History: (1985) Gary Carter Hits Five HRs & Drives In Nine Runs In Two Games

Tuesday September 3rd, 1985: Davey Johnson's second place Mets (79-52) were just one game behind the St. Louis Cardinals in hot pursuit in the midst of a five-game win streak.

This game followed a big five hit night from Keith Hernandez & game winning HR night for Keith two games ago.

On this night the Mets were playing in the second game of a series in San Diego, taking on future Hall of Fame skipper, Dick Williams' third place Padres (69-62).

The Mets sent Rick Augilera (6-5) to the mound up against the Padres' Dave Dravecky (11-7) in front 14,960 fans at Jack Murphy Stadium.

In the 1st inning, Gary Carter started his big night with a two run HR, following a Keith Hernandez walk. It was Carter's 21st HR of the year, as his night was just getting started.

In the 4th inning, Carter led off with his second HR making it 3-0 Mets. 

In the 5th inning, with one out, Tom Paciorek & Keith Hernandez both singled. Gary Carter then stepped in & greeted the new Padres pitcher, Luis DeLeon with his third HR of the game, #23 on his season.

Trivia: Carter became the fifth Mets player in team history to hit three HRs in a game. 15 Mets have players have now accomplished this feat.

Darryl Strawberry followed with a back-to-back HR giving the Mets a 7-0 lead. In the 9th, Lenny Dykstra added an RBI triple, as the Mets went on to an 8-3 victory. 

For the Padres, Steve Garvey, Terry Kennedy & Carmelo Martinez all hit solo HRs. Rick Augilera got the win going 6.2 innings with two runs on six hits, two strike outs & a walk. Jesse Orosco pitched from the 7th inning on, allowing a run on two hits, with a walk.

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Wednesday September 4th 1985: Tonight, the Mets were still just one game back of the St. Louis Cardinals, keeping pace in the heat of an outstanding September pennant race.

Davey Johnson's Mets (80-52) went up in the final game of the series against Dick Williams Padres.

Tonight's starters were Ron Darling (13-5) facing off against former Met Roy Lee Jackson (2-2).

 

For Ron Darling he would earn his 14th win of the season, allowing just two runs & seven hits over eight innings. He struck out four & walked three. Roger McDowell closed it out.

In the top of the 2nd, the hot hitting Gary Carter, blasted a solo HR putting the Mets up 1-0.

In the 3rd, Wally Backman's single driving in Rafael Santana made it 2-0. In the 4th the Mets added two more runs, as Danny Heep singled & Howard Johnson tripled. Then Roy Lee Jackson balked bringing in HoJo with the 4th Mets run.

In the 5th inning, Backman singled & Darryl Strawberry was hit by a pitch, putting two men on for the hottest hitter on the club, Gary Carter. He singled bringing in Backman with his second RBI of the game, making it 5-1 Mets.

Later in the 7th inning, Carter would hit his second HR of the evening, #25 on the season. Carter would have a three hit, three RBI night in the Mets 9-2 win.

In the 9th Padre pitcher; Bob Patterson walked the bases loaded. Danny Heep & Tom Paciorek added RBI singles topping off the win.

Record Tying Performance: For Gary Carter, he became the 11th player in MLB history to hit five HRs over two games. The smoking hot Gary Carter was in the midst of a ten-game hitting streak, where he collected 19 hits, he blasted eight HRs & drove in 15 runs. Carter was leading the Mets during this stretch in the hot pennant race.

Carter would finish the year leading the 1985 Mets with 32 HRs (5th most in the NL) & 100 RBIs (6th best in the NL). He was second on the club in hits (156) to Keith Hernandez & Runs scored (83).