Remembering Mets History (1988) Gary Carter Finally Hits 300th Career HR & Kevin McReynolds Grand Slam Leads Mets to Victory

In 1988 Gary Carter was 34 years old, he was a 15-veteran catcher, who's body had been beaten up behind the plate & he was starting to show age. Carter's numbers were starting to fall off, the next season would be his last in New York.

At this pint he was still an All-Star catcher & a very popular player.

On May 16th, Carter hit his 299th career HR, a two-run shot off the Padres' Greg Booker. He drove in four runs that game leading the Mets to a 7-4 win in San Diego. At the time, he was batting .284. the Mets were in first place, with a two-game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Hitting the milestone #300 HR, loomed over Carter as he went into a HR drought. Carter did not hit another HR for 65 games, 225 at bats & five days shy of three months since his last longball. 

By now his average had fallen to .251. The Mets were still in first place, with a five-game lead over the Pirates.

In this matinee at Wrigley Field, Davey Johnson's Mets (67-48) visited Don Zimmer's fourth place Chicago Cubs (55-56). 

Three nights earlier, the Mets had lost to the Cubs, in the first night game ever played at Wrigley Field. Wrigley Field was the last ballpark to install lights for night games, prior to this all-Cubs home games were played in the daytime.

This afternoon Dwight Gooden (13-6) went for the Mets up against the Cubs Al Nipper (2-4) in front of 31,942 in the Friendly Confines. This would be Al Nipper's last game until the 1990 season, as elbow & knee injuries kept him out of action.

Thursday August 11th, 1988: In the top of the 2nd inning, Gary Carter led off the inning with a solo HR, reaching his 300th career HR milestone. At home plate he was greeted by Howard Johnson both smiling. 

As he walked into the dugout still gleaming with that Gary Carter smile he had a sigh of relief after the long HR drought.

Quotes- Gary Carter: "It certainly was a nice feeling, it was a long time coming, but it's very special. Now that that is out of the way & the monkey is off my back, we can go out & win this thing".

300th HR Trivia: Carter became the 59th player in MLB history to reach the 300 HR mark. He was just the fourth catcher at that time to do so. Gary Carter would go on to hit 324 career HRs, 89 of them as a Mets player.

In the bottom of the 2nd, the Cubs took the lead off Gooden. Darryl Strawberry misplayed a fly ball by Andre Dawson that led to a triple. Damon Berryhill followed with an RBI single & another triple by Rafael Palmeiro giving the Cubs a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the 3rd, Wally Backman & Keith Hernandez both singled. Darryl Strawberry reached on a Ryne Sandberg error, scoring Backman to tie it up at two. Kevin McReynolds then singled to left scoring Hernandez, putting New York ahead 3-2. But Strawberry made another blunder getting thrown out at third base after rounding the base too far.

In the bottom of the 3rd, the Cubs sent ten men to the plate, collecting five hits, a walk & a passed ball charged to Carter. Mitch Webster led off with the Cubs third triple of the game, this also because of another Darryl Strawberry misplay in right field. 

Then a passed ball by Carter led to him scoring. Base hits by Ryne Sandberg & Mark Grace as well as an intentional walk to Rafael Palmeiro loaded the bases. Vance Law collected a two-run single & Angel Salzar added an RBI double giving Chicago a 6-3 lead. 

In the top of the 7th, Lenny Dykstra brought the Mets a bit closer with a solo HR making it 6-4.

Cubs' manager Zimmer relieved Al Nipper with Frank DiPino.

In the top of the 9th, Frank DiPino gave up lead off singles to Kevin Elster & Mookie Wilson. Don Zimmer brought in reliever Pat Perry to face Lenny Dykstra. Dykstra collected his second hit of the game, an RBI single scoring Elster to make it a one run 6-5 game.  

Mookie Wilson then stole his 12th base of the season swiping third base. Keith Hernandez was hit by a pitch to load up the bases.

After Darryl Strawberry struck out, Veteran Rich "Goose" Gossage was brought in to pitch to
Kevin McReynolds. 

Background: Gossage & McReynolds had been teammates with the San Diego Padres, reaching the World Series there in 1984. Gossage had once made a comment saying he wondered about his work habits. The two would face each other nine times after that leading to this at bat.

The reliable McReynolds blasted a grand slam off the Goose, three rows into the centerfield bleachers, sealing the Mets 9-6 victory. It was McReynolds 17th HR & he now reached 70 RBIs on the year.

Kevin McReynolds Trivia: For McReynolds the multi-five RBI game was his third on the season. McReynolds put in twenty multi-RBI games on the season, with ten of them being three or more runs driven in. It was his third career grand slam & his second of the season. McReynolds hit six career grand slams with four of them coming as a Mets player.

Quotes- Kevin McReynolds: "I definitely think this was the type of game we needed. Whether or not it will slap us out of our daze, I don't know".

McReynolds mentioned the Gossage comment saying Goose had told him that the comment was taken out of context.

Quotes- Rich Gossage: "I get paid to get McReynolds out & that's the bottom line, I didn't get him out."

Quotes- Cubs Manager Dom Zimmer: "Goose doesn't throw the ball like he did six years ago,
but who the hell does?"

In the bottom of the 9th, Randy Meyers gave up two singles, as slugger Andre Dawson came up with two outs representing the tying run.  Mets manager Davey Johnso went to Roger McDowell who closed it out as Dawson grounded back to the mound for the final out.

The win was a much-needed win
as they avoided the sweep. Manager Davey Johnson still wasn't happy with the team's sloppy play despite the win & said so publicly after the game.