Remembering Mets History (1986) Mets Walk Off On Giants Extra Inning Error

Friday May 30th, 1986: Tonight, Davey Johnson's first place Mets (30-11) hosted Roger Craig's fourth place San Francisco Giants (24-23). 

Roger Craig Trivia: Craig had been an original Met, spending two years with the Mets leading the NL in losses both years. He began his career with the 1955 World Champion Brooklyn Dodgers & moved with them to Los Angeles spending a total of eight years with them pitching in four World Series.

After his playing days, he became a highly successful pitching coach teaching the split finger fastball which he mastered.

A crowd of 38,243 came out to see Bruce Berenyi (2-0) take on Mike Lacoss (5-1).

Bruce Berenyi would start the year at 2-0 for the Mets. He would fall to 2-2 then sent back down to AAA in early July. He would appear in 14 games for the '86 Champs, making seven starts for New York.

Trivia: Mike Lacoss would start the year at 9-3 for the Giants then lose ten of his last eleven games to finish at 10-13.

In the bottom of the 1st, the Mets Lenny Dykstra led off with a single, then Wally Backman walked. Keith Hernandez followed with an RBI single. After Gary Carter struck out, Darryl Strawberry walked. 

Although George Foster grounded out, Backman scored the Mets second run. Ray Knight followed with a single to centerfield to make it 3-0.

In the 2nd, the Giants got a run as Chili Davis walked & Luis Quinones singled. Then a Jose Uribe base hit scored Davis for the Giants first run.

In the Giants 3rd, Mike Aldrete, Bob Brenly Jeffery Leonard & Chili Davis all collected singled, putting the Giants ahead, knocking Berenyi out of the game. Rick Aguilera came on for relief.

In the 3rd, after a Darryl Strawberry Walk, a two run HR from George Foster put the Mets ahead 5-4. For Foster it was his seventh HR of the year. Foster's time was running out in New York for a variety of reasons.

In the bottom of the 5th, with one out the Giants Mike Lacoss walked three Mets in a row, as Gary Carter, Darryl Strawberry & George Foster all got free passes loading the bases.

That was it for Lacoss as he gave up six runs with six walks. Bill Laskey finished off the 5th inning.

Ray Knight hit a sac fly scoring Carter making it 6-4 Mets. 

In the 6th Chili Davis led off with a HR off Aguilera. It was the only run Aguilera gave up, He would pitch 3.1 innings he gave up two hits, a run walking & striking out two. 

Roger McDowell came on to pitch. In the top of the 8th, Dan Gladden singled, then rookie Will Clark tied the game with a double off the centerfield wall.

Will Calrk hit 11 HRs & drive in 41 runs in 111 games finishing fifth in the Rookie of the Year voting while starting off a fine career.

In the top of the 9th, Mets manager brought in Jesse Orosco to pitch. He retired the Giants in
order. The Giants would go through five pitchers in the game; after Lacoss & Laskey, Jeff Robinson gave the Giants two scoreless innings. Then Greg Minton came on retiring the Mets in order in the 9th as the game went to extra innings.

In the top of the 10th, Jesse Orosco gave up a leadoff HR to Robby Thompson, putting San Francisco ahead 7-6.

In the bottom of the 10th, Greg Minton came back to close it out. Keith Hernandez led off with a base hit up the middle. After Gary Carter flew out, Giants manager Roger Craig brought in Mark Davis to pitch. Davey Johnson sent in Pinch hitter Kevin Mitchell who singled putting Hernandez in scoring position. Roger Craig went to his bullpen again, bringing in Juan Berenguer.

Trivia: Berenguer had started his career with Mets pitching three seasons (1978-1980) going 1-4 in 15 games.

As the managerial moves kept on coming, Davey Johnson sent up Howard Johnson to pinch hit. Juan Berenguer threw a wild pitch advancing the runners. He then walked Ho-Jo loading the bases. Ray Knight then tied the game with an RBI sac fly to left field. 

Mets short stop Rafael Santana then hit a popup to the middle of the infield. Second baseman Robby Thompson was getting ready to catch it, but short stop Juan Uribe collided with him, as the ball dropped, Kevin Mitchell scored from second base, with the games walk off winning run.

The win got the Mets to twenty games over .500 (31-11).