Remembering Mets History (1987) Keith Hernandez Leads Mets to Win with Fourth Career Grand Slam

Saturday September 19th, 1987: Davey Johnson's reigning World Champions had a rough start to the season, with injuries & star pitcher Dwight Gooden going off to rehab they found themselves at .500 in mid-June 7.5 games out.

Tonight, the second place Mets (84-63) came into tonight's game just 1.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals. 

The Mets had lost the series opener to John Smiley but lost no ground in the standings as the Cardinals had lost to the Cubs. Time was running out for the reigning World Champs, as the Mets had just 14 games left play in the season.

Tonight, they continued the series at Three Rivers Stadium as Rick Aguilera went up against Vicente Palacios & Jim Leyland's last place Pittsburgh Pirates (71-76). 

In the next few years, Leyland would turn the club around winning the NL Eastern title by 1991. 

In the bottom of the 1st, Rick Aguilera had a rough start, giving up a single to Jose Lind, Andy Van Slyke reached on force play at second base then Aguilera waked Barry Bonds. Sloppy Mets play followed as Mookie Wilson dropped a foul ball pop up in right field then Gary Carter was charged with a passed ball. Next Sid Bream doubled bringing in Van Slyke & Bonilla giving the Pirates a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the 5th inning, Tim Teufel led off with a walk. Rafael Santana singled to right field & Rick Aguilera bunted reaching with a base hit. Lenny Dykstra hit a grounder to first base & reached with a single as Tim Teufel scored from third with the Mets first run.

Keth Hernandez came up with the bases loaded &hit a grand slam HR to right field, giving the Mets a 5-1 lead. 

Keith Grand-Slam Trivia: For Hernandez it was his fifth career grand slam & his first one as a Mets player. His last grand slam had come in 1981 while he was still with the St. Louis Cardinals, coming off the Padres John Littlefield.

On April 26th, 1988, Hernandez would hit another grand slam for the Mets coming off the Braves Charie Puleo, a former Met. Keith would hit six grand slams in his career.

The HR was Hernandez 17th of the year & he now had 85 RBIs.

Rick Agilera pitched into the 6th inning, allowing four runs (two earned) on nine hits, with four strike outs & a walk. He got the win to go 10-2 with a 3.75 ERA. Randy Myers pitched two scoreless & Roger McDowell earned his 24th save.

The Mets would go 7-7 the rest of the way, finishing three games behind the NL Champin Cardinals who lost the World Series to the Minnesota Twins.