May 7th, 1985: Ron Darling came into this start with 1-1 record as he took the mound against the Braves Steve Bedrosian. Bedrosian was still a starting pitcher at this point, the next year he would start his career as a close, leading the NL with 40 saves in 1987.
Ron Darling held the Braves scoreless thru the first four innings; in the 5th he gave up a HR to Claudell Washington which was the only run he would give up. Darling exited the game after eight innings with the score tied at one, after Howard Johnson had homered for New York.
In the bottom of the 8th, Gary Carter hit his eighth career grand slam, coming off Hall of Fame closer, Bruce Sutter helping Darling with the win.
In the top of the 9th, Jesse Orosco gave up five singles but closed out the 5-3 win.
Mother's Day May 12th, 1985: In his next start Darling went up against Kevin Gross & the Phillies at Shea Stadium. Darling had another good outing, giving up two runs, a HR from Glen Wilson & RBI single from Mike Schmidt over seven innings pitched.
For the season he lowered his ERA to 2.37 as he struck out four & walked three. The Mets was the Mets sixth straight as they remained one game ahead of Montreal in the NL East.
For the Mets offense, Keith Hernandez homered & Rafael Santana was credited with an RBI on a ground out. A Phillies error led to the Mets third run in the 3-1 win.
In his next two starts, Ronnie earned no decisions as both games went into extra innings.
Memorial Day May 27th, 1985: The Dodgers were in town for the Memorial Day weekend, splitting a four-game series with the Mets. On this evening Darling thew his second complete game of the season, holding the Dodgers to one run while scattering nine hits over nine innings, striking out seven for his third straight win. It was the Mets second straight win after a four-game losing streak that had knocked them out of first place. This four game win streak put them back atop the NL East.
Saturday June 1st, 1985: The Mets went on their first west coast road trip of the year; after taking the two-game set in San Francisco, they had lost the first game in San Deigo the previous night. Darling went up against Mark Thurmond. In the 1st, Darling walked the leadoff batter Tim Flannery, then gave up a base hit to Tony Gwynn. He then threw a wild pitch allowing Flannery to score.
In the 3rd, Darling hit Flannery with a pitch, then gave up another hit to Tony Gwynn. Greg Nettles sac fly brought in Flannery with the second run. But Darling held the Padres there, pitching three scoreless innings before exiting after six.
In the top of the 6th, the Mets collected four hits & drew two walks, with George Foster hitting a two-run single, then Rafael Santana added an RBI single as well giving New York the lead. In the 7th, Rusty Staub added a pinch-hit RBI single just before he was to go on a record eight straight pinch hits.
The Mets won the game 4-2, as Darling won his fourth straight decision.
Monday June 17th, 1985: Tonight, Davey Johnson's Mets (32-27) were in fourth place but just 2.5 games out, in a tight NL East. They hosted Jim Frey's Chicago Cubs (35-24) who were a half game behind the first place Montreal Expos. The Cubs had won the NL East the year before finishing 6.5 games ahead of the Mets but would finish fourth in 1985 (77-84).
TA big crowd of 41,986 came out to Shea to see tonight's pitching matchup, which was a good one. The Mets number two pitcher, Ron Darling (5-1) would go up against the Cubs Rick Sutcliffe (6-5). Darling was on a personal four game win streak.
Rick Sutcliffe Trivia: Sutcliffe was coming off a twenty-win season, he had come over from the Cleveland Indians & when he arrived in Chicago, he helped the Cubs win the division by going an incredible 16-1. In 1985 he fell to 8-8, but two years later he would lead the league in wins (18).
After an easy 1st inning, Darling surrendered a pair of singles in the 2nd inning but got out of the inning. In the 4th he walked two batters, but Keith Moreland was caught stealing to end the inning.
In the home 4th, Gary Carter led off with his 9th HR of the year. In the 5th, Wally Backman singled with one out. Danny Heep then doubled, scoring Backman with the Mets second run. Sutcliffe allowed just the two runs on five hits; he did walk four & fanned five. The loss got him to 6-6 on the year.
In the top of the 6th veteran Davey Lopes singled to start the inning.
Davey Lopes Trivia: Lopes was now 38 years old but was still a threat to steal. Lopes one of the best base stealers of his era while with the LA Dodgers, finished his career with 557 stolen bases (26th all time) & lead the NL twice in his career.
But here Ron Darling fooled Lopes & picked him off first base as Keith Hernandez made the tag.
In the 8th, with one out, pitcher Rick Sutcliffe singled. But Darling got Lopes to fly out & Ryne
Sandberg to hit a grounder back to the mound, Darling fielded it & threw to Hernandez to end the inning.In the 9th, Keith Morland led off with a double, but Darling got a fly out from Leon Durham & then he struck out Jody Davis. Another Dodger veteran, Ron Cey flew out to Danny Heep to end the game.
For Darling he completed the five-hit shutout, striking out seven & walking four. For the season he went to 6-1 lowering his ERA to 2.26.
Darling would toss two shut outs on the season & pitch four complete games. He went 16-6 with a 2.90 ERA a fine season but lost in the shadows of Dwight Gooden's season Cy Young season for the ages.
But here Ron Darling fooled Lopes & picked him off first base as Keith Hernandez made the tag.