Remembering Mets History (1986) Mets Win Another Seven Straight Games & Nineteen of their last Twenty
As Davey Johnson's Mets came into Cincinnati for a three game series with the Reds, they had just left Atlanta taking their first loss after a record eleven game win streak. The Mets were in first place already holding a 5.5 game lead over the Expos. They were about to go on another seven game win streak taking them into mid May.
out of their last ten entering this game this series would set the Red Legs back further.
Pete Rose Trivia: At the time Pete Rose was the last player/manager in baseball & no one else has played the dual roles since. This would be the All-Time hits leader's last season as a player with his final at bat coming on August 7th. That season he mostly platooned with veteran Tony Perez at first base. Rose would continue to manage until his gambling habit had him placed on MLB's ineligible list in 1989.
But the Reds came back, with two as Sid Fernandez issued three walks including a pass to Nick Esasky bringing in a run. Queens native Sal Butera singled home another run but on the play Lenny Dykstra threw out Tony Perez at home plate to end the inning.
In the top of the 3rd, the Mets tacked on a pair of runs with an RBI single from George Foster & sac fly from Ray Knight as he collected his second RBI of the game.
The Reds had a big 8th inning , scoring five runs off McDowell & Jesse Orosco, until Nick Esasky popped up to end the long inning.
In the bottom of the 9th, Orosco set the Reds down in order to end the game. Orosco had not allowed a run in eleven innings so far in the season.
John Denny Trivia: A decade earlier Denny had led the NL in ERA (2.52) while pitching for the Cardinals. At this point in time, John Denny had the best record among active pitchers against the Mets (16-5).
In the top of the 2nd, the Mets scrapped out two runs as Danny Heep & Ray Knight led off with singles. Groundouts from Howard Johnson & Barry Lyons led to both runners scoring. The Reds got a run from Sal Butera's RBI single making it a 2-1 game.
The score stayed that way until the top of the 7th, with one out Lenny Dykstra hit his second triple of the year. Lenny would lead the 1986 Mets with seven triples that year.
In the dugout a frustrated John Denny threw his bat & hit the camera of a local TV newsman.
Jesse Orosco earned his fifth save, his second in consecutive games. Orosco has not allowed a run in 13.1 innings.
Quotes- Jesse Orosco: "I'm being used everyday & that keeps the blood flowing in my arm & keeps me in shape."
The Mets went on to a 4-1 win, their second straight with Bobby Ojeda getting to 4-0 & the team at 15-4.
Mario Soto Trivia: Soto had won 12 or more games five straight years with the Reds leading the league in complete games in 1983 (18) & 1984 (13). Soto also gave up a lot of HRs, 172 in his career while leading the NL three times in that category.
Tonight, Darryl Strawberry would hit two HRs off Soto, a 1st inning two-run shot & a 3rd inning solo shot. It was Darryl's first of two multi-HR games on the year & his third multi-RBI game where he drove in three or more runs, giving him 17 RBIs on the season.
Quotes- Darryl Strawberry: "I've hit him pretty well the last couple of years. The first one I hit pretty good, the second one I just got a little bit of it but I got it up in the air".
Multi- Four Hit Game: Wally Backman had his second multi-four hit game of the year & a added an RBI single to the 7-2 Mets win raising his season batting average to .380. But Wally would pull a hamstring & be out until May 17th.
Ron Darling went to 2-0 as he earned the win, giving up two runs on four hits striking out five while walking a season high six batters. The Mets swept the series with the Reds, won nine of ten games on this road trip & won 14 of their last 15 games.
Yogi Berra Tribute: centerfieldmaz & darthpie were in attendance for tonight's game. As part of the Mets 25th Anniversary that year, the Mets honored their former manager Yogi Berra who was an Astros coach that season.
It was the first time in forty years Berra was wearing a uniform other than a New York team. Rusty Staub who had recently retired & once played under Berra for the Mets presented Yogi with a framed picture of himself as Mets manager. This was Berra's first time back at Shea Stadium in uniform since 1975 Berra the year he was fired.
seven, a low number for Dr. K & walked two along the way.
Gooden retired the first 12 batters not allowing an Astros hit until the 5th inning when Glenn Davis spoiled the perfect game with an infield base hit. Davis hit a bouncer to the left side of the mound, Gooden lost his balance unable to field the ball. Rafael Santana tried to cut it off but rolled under his glove to Tim Teufel at second but his throw was too late.
The only other Astro hit came in the 9th inning when Craig Reynolds singled with one out. The Astros threatened that inning as a walk & a Wally Backman error led to the bases getting loaded.
Quotes- Keith Hernandez: "It was really the first time this year he's been overpowering".
In the bottom of the 5th, George Foster hit his first HR of the season, the 334th of his career giving the Mets a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 7th, Foster drew a lead off walk then with one out Rafael Santana reached on an error. Dwight Gooden then hit a deep fly ball to right field scoring both runners& gliding into third base with a triple. It was the first triple of Gooden's career, his second & third RBIs of the season as his season average was now .235. He would drive in four runs that year with one triple.
Kevin Mitchell followed with a single bringing in Gooden topping off the 4-0 Mets win. The win streak was at four, 15 of 16 games.
undefeated that season, Sid Fernandez (3-0) facing future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan (3-3).
In bottom of the 3rd of the scoreless game Keith Hernandez singled, then Darryl Strawberry hit his sixth HR of the season, the two run shot off Ryan gave the Mets a 2-0 lead. During the seven game win streak, although he hit just .182 Straw hit three HRs & drove in six runs.
In the home 4th, Ray Knight singled then Lenny Dykstra doubled to score Knight giving the Mets a 3-0 lead.
Sid Fernandez held the Astros scoreless thru five, then in the 6th Billy Hatcher singled & Glenn Davis doubled him in for the first Astro run. In the top of the 7th Sid walked Mark Bailey then back-to-back singles from Jim Pankovits & Bill Doran put the Astros within a run.
Roger McDowell (fifth hold)& Jesse Orosco (sixth save) held down the final two innings. Orosco had not allowed a run in 15 innings over 11 appearances. Sid Fernandez went to 4-0 on the year with a 2.76 ERA. The Mets won their fifth straight, 16 of 17 games.
In the 1st inning Bobby O would start out strong striking out Tracey Jones & Dave Parker.
In the 2nd inning, Ojeda struck out the side, getting Tony Perez swinging, Buddy Bell looking & Eric Davis swinging at the third strike. Ojeda held the Reds scoreless over the next two innings.
In the 5th inning, Buddy Bell doubled, advanced on Eric Davis' fly ball & scored on Ron Oester's sac fly. That would be the only run Ojeda would allow on the night. The Reds would just scatter base hits in each of the next three innings & only three Reds would get past first base all evening.
In the top of the 6th inning, Ojeda struck out Dave Parker. In the 7th he fanned Buddy Bell & Eric Davis, each for the second time. In the 8th, he struck out Kurt Stilwelll giving him a season high ten K's on the night. It was just the second time in his career he had reached double figures in strike outs in a game.
Ojeda would pitch eight innings, allowing a run, on six hits with a walk while besting his record to 5-0 with a 1.49 ERA.
The Reds Mario Soto pitched well holding the Mets scoreless until the 6th inning. Tim Teufel led off with a single then Lenny Dykstra drew a one out walk. Howard Johnson then doubled, Teufel scored to tie the game, but Dykstra was held at third.
The Mets had won their sixth straight game on a streak that began in Cincinnati last week. New York had now won 18 of their last 19 games.
But he arguably he became the ace of that staff leading the team in wins (18) winning % (.783) ERA (2.57) & tied with two shutouts with Gooden & Darling. Among the four Mets starters who tossed 200+ innings, Ojeda walked the fewest batters (52) & had the fewest loses (5).
Although Pete Rose acknowledged the Mets win streak, saying they have not show any weakness, he downplayed it saying the fast start doesn't guarantee anything.
Saturday May 10th, 1986: In this Saturday matinee, Ron Darling the fourth Mets starter to still be undefeated (3-0) went up against Tom Browning (0-3) who was still looking for his first win of the year. Browning would lead the NL in starts (39) that season & do it four of the next five seasons.
After three scoreless, George Foster hit his second HR of the season a solo shot off Browning putting the Mets on the board first. In the home 5th, Kevin Mitchell doubled then scored on Keith Hernandez's RBI single, Keith's 13th RBI of the season.
Keith Trivia: During the Mets seven game win streak, Keith batted .458. Dating back to April 18th the start of the 19 wins Keith hit .338 with a .440 on base % & eleven RBIs.
In the bottom of the 8th, Hernandez collected his second hit of the game, a lead off single off Joe Price. Gary Carter then hit his fourth HR of the season & collected his team leading 21st RBI of the year.
Ron Darling continued his personal win streak getting to 4-0, giving up one run on three hits in eight innings fanning four & walking three. The Mets won their seventh straight, their fifth straight over the Reds that year, they would go 8-4 with them that year. The Mets had won 19 of their last twenty games, taking an eleven game lead over the Phillies.
Trivia: The Mets 21-4 start was one the six bests starts to a season in MLB history.
The White Rat Concedes: The Mets rival St. Louis Cardinals were already 19 games back, causing manager Whitey Herzog to already concede the NL East to the Mets.
In the top of the 1st inning with the bases loaded, Pete Rose cleared the bases with a three run single leading the Reds to a 3-12 win.
The Reds win was just their seventh in 26 games, their third win in their last 19 games. They would finish in second place again for the second straight year.