Remembering Mets History (1985) Keith Hernandez Starts Out the Month With Two Big Games

Sunday September 1st, 1985: Davey Johnson's Mets (77-52) were two games out of first place, behind the St. Louis Cardinals. Today they were playing the rubber game of a three-game set in San Francisco against Jim Davenport's last place Giants (51-77).

The Mets starter was Ed Lynch (10-7) going up against the Giants Dave LaPoint (7-11) in front of a small crowd of 9,975 at Candlestick Park.
 

Homecoming: For Keith Hernandez it was always special coming to play in the Bay Area where he grew up. Hernandez lived 30 minutes south of San Francisco in Pacifica, California. He enjoyed playing against the team he rooted for as a kid when his father would take him & his brother to games at Candlestick Park. 

Tonight, Keith would not get the start at first base, as Gary Carter got the start at the position.

The Mets were in a funk as they had just lost four of five games, but after today would go on a five-game win streak, taking the next seven of eight games.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Dan Driessen doubled to start the inning. Giants catcher Bob Brenly brought him in with a base hit for the first run of the game.

In the top of the 4th inning, Mets first baseman that day, Gary Carter tied up the game with a solo HR to right field, his 20th blast of the year.

In the bottom of the 6th inning, with the score still tied at one, Dan Driessen & Ron Roenicke both singled. Mets pitcher Ed Lynch got former Met Joel Youngblood to pop up to Wally Backman for the second out. But Lynch couldn't get out of the inning as Bob Brenly doubled bringing in both runners giving the Giants a 3-1 lead.

In the top of the 9th still down 3-1, the Mets Howard Johnson led off with a double off Giants reliever, Scott Garrelts.

Scott Garrelts Trivia: Garrelts would eventually transition to a full-time starting pitcher. In 1989 he would lead the NL in ERA (2.28) & winning % (.737) going 14-5 leading the Giants staff to the NL pennant. 

Pinch hitter Rusty Staub, followed with a double, bringing in HoJo with the Mets second run, making it a one run game. For Staub it was his ninth pinch hit of the year & 98th of his career, tenth all time at the time.

In has last five at bats, Rusty was 3-5 with a walk & two RBIs. It was his third double of the season as well as the last double of his career #499 (66th most all time).

Short time Met Larry Bowa came in to pinch run for Staub. 

Mookie Wilson followed with a fly ball base hit that landed in short left field. Larry Bowa over ran third base then attempted to get back to the bag but was thrown out by short stop Jose Uribe. 

Giants skipper Jim Davenport went to his bullpen bringing in Mark Davis.

Mark Davis Trivia: Mark Davis went 5-12 that year his first full year transitioning to a reliever. By 1989 he would lead the NL in saves (44) & appearances (65) in San Diego.

Davey Johnson then sent up Keith Hernandez to pinch hit. With many family & friends in the crowd, Keith did not disappoint, hitting a two run HR to right field putting the Mets ahead 4-3. It was his 9th HR & 73rd team leading RBI of the year. 

Trivia: Keith Hernandez tied an NL record & took over the league lead in game winning RBI's with 21 that season, a stat that was official at the time.

It turned out to be the game's winning runs as Jesse Orosco closed the door in the bottom of the 9th inning retiring the side in order.

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Monday September 2nd, 1985: The Mets moved on down the coast of California to
beautiful San Diego to play Dick Williams third place Padres (69-60). The Padres were the reigning NL Champions, having had lost the 1984 World Series to the Detroit Tigers in five games. 

On this evening, the Mets Sid Fernandez (5-8) went up against the friars Mark Thurmond (6-7).

The Mets star of last night's game, Keith Hernandez would have another big night.

In the top of the 1st inning, veteran Tom Paciorek singled with one out. Keith Hernandez then singled with his first hit of the night. Gary Carter's base hit scored Paciorek with the Mets first run. 

Darryl Strawberry then hit a triple bringing in both Hernandez & Carter for a 3-0 lead. Ray Knight grounded to short as Strawberry scored the Mets four run. The Mets sent eight men to the plate collecting four runs on four hits & a walk.

In the bottom of the 1st, Tony Gwynn put the Padres on the board with a solo HR.

In the top of the 2nd inning, Wally Backman singled & stole his team leading 24th base. Keith Hernandez followed with a base hit bringing in Backman to make it 5-1 Mets. 

Darryl Strawberry collected his second hit & third RBI of the game scoring Hernandez making it a 6-1 Mets lead.

In the top of the 4th inning, Hernandez collected his third single of the game to go 3-3.

In the top of the 7th inning, the Padres brought Bob Patterson in to pitch, making his MLB debut. With one out Keith Hernandez got his fourth single of the evening. It was his fourth multi-four hit game of that season.

Gary Carter then collected a base hit, advancing Hernandez. George Foster then followed with a single, scoring Keith with his fourth run of the night. Ray Knight added a three run HR, his sixth HR of the season, making it 10-1 Mets. 

By the bottom of the 7th, Sid Fernandez retired ten batters in a row, had not allowed a hit since the 2nd inning or a base runner since walking Steve Garvey in the 4th inning. Sid walked Carmelo Martinez then Craig Nettles doubled. 

Kevin McReynolds collected an RBI single & Sid threw a wild pitch allowing Nettles to score the Padres third run 0-3.

In the top of the 8th inning, Tom Paciorek reached on a two out single.

Mets Single Game Hit Record: Keith Hernandez then lined a Bob Patterson pitch over the right field wall for a two run HR, making it a 12-3 game. It was his fifth hit of the night, tying a Mets franchise single game record at the time. On August 8th he had already matched the record with five hits in a 14-7 win at Montreal. 

Keith Trivia: For Keith it was his third multi-five hit game of his career. This was his tenth HR of the year & team leading 70th RBI raising his batting average to .295. Over the past two games he had six hits, with two HRs & five RBIs. He also took over the NL lead with 22 game winning RBIs.

He would finish the year batting .309 (6th in the NL) with 183 hits (8th in the NL) 87 runs scored 10 HRs  34 doubles & team best 91 RBIs (10th in the NL).

Sid Fernandez took the complete game victory (6-8) lowering his ERA to 2.84. The Mets were now just one game behind the Cardinals in the NL East.