Remembering Mets History (1987) Kevin McReynolds Walk Off Hit Beats The Reds

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 Sunday July 19th, 1987: Davey Johnson's Mets were the reigning World Champions, but this season they were in third place, 9.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals. 

Today they hosted, Pete Rose's first place Cincinnati Reds (49-42). The Reds would eventually lose the division to the San Francisco Giants.

The Mets would send John Mitchell to the mound, Mitchell spent parts of four seasons with the Mets (1986 - 1990). He would face Guy Hoffman, in front of 45,255 at Shea Stadium.


Mitchell ran into trouble in the 2nd inning. The Reds' Dave Parker led off with a base hit & Paul O'Neill walked. Nick Esasky & Terry McGriff followed with RBI singles making it 2-0. The pitcher, Guy Hoffman later grounded out, but plated Esasky with the Reds third run.

In the bottom of the 2nd, Barry Lyons singled for the Mets. With two outs, Rafael Santana doubled & the pitcher Mitchell, reached base on catchers interference. As Pete Rose fumed in the Reds dugout, Hoffman walked Mookie Wilson with the bases loaded to give the Mets their first run.

The two pitchers kept it that way until the 6th inning. With one out Howard Johnson hit his 22nd HR of the season, making it a one run game.

John Mitchell would get relieved in the 7th inning, leaving the
bases loaded for Roger McDowell. McDowell surrendered a two run single to Eric Davis, giving the Reds a 5-2 lead.

In the home 7th, Mookie Wilson led off with a double & Tim Teufel walked. Keith Hernandez then brought home Mookie with a base hit to left field. Hernendez was picked off of first, but got saved on an error by pitcher Frank Williams. Kevin McReynolds then drew a walk to load the bases.

Lee Mazzilli hit a sac fly bringing home Teufel & Howard Johnson singled bringing home Hernandez to tie the game up at five.

Jesse Orosco & John Franco then went at it, throwing scoreless innings in the 9th, to get the game to extra innings. Orosco pitched three scoreless & Franco two scoreless. 

In the bottom of the 11th, Bill Scherrer came on to pitch for Cincinnati. Short time Met, Bill Almon led off with a pinch hit walk. After Teufel lined out, Keith Hernandez singled to left field with his third hit of the day. Darryl Strawberry then walked to load the bases. Pete Rose went to reliever Bill Landrum.

The Mets Kevin McReynolds then hit a grounder in between
2nd base & shortstop, enough to score Almon with the winning run. 

For McReynolds it was one of three walk off hits he would have in 1987. He would have eight career walk off hits with the Mets.

McReynolds would drive in 95 runs in 1987, third on the club behind Darryl Strawberry & Howard Johnson. He was also third on the club, behind Straw & Hojo with 29 HRs.

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