Remembering Mets History (1986) World Series Game #1- Mets Drop Opener 1-0

 

Saturday October 18th 1986- Shea Stadium, New York: The 1986 World Series began at Shea Stadium in New York as a 55,076 filled up Shea Stadium with excitement. Although the players & media criticized the fan participation early on, as it was clear more high paying / celebrity / business type people had gotten in on the expensive tickets as opposed to the usual fans who attended the games.

The temperature was cool as it dropped down into the forties with a breeze blowing in. 

The Mets were hosting the AL Champion Boston Red Sox (95-66) managed by John McNamara. The Sox won their division by 5.5 games then beat the California Angels in a  seven game ALCS after falling behind three games to one to start the series.

Boston's offense was led by the AL batting champ & future Hall of Famer Wade Boggs (.357). Another Hall of Famer Jim Rice 20 HRs 110 RBIs .324 batting average, as well as sluggers: Don Baylor 31 HRs 94 RBIs, & Dwight Evans 26 HRs 97 RBIs. Also  Rich Gedman 16 HRs 65 RBIs & Bill Buckner 18 HRs 102 RBIs.

The Boston staff was led by Cy Young winner Roger Clemens who led the league in wins (24) & ERA (2.48) while striking out 238 batters. Oil Can Boyd was a 16 game winner & lefty Bruce Hurst was 13-8 having led the team in complete games (11) & shut outs (4). 

The bullpen was led by Bob Stanley (16 saves) but a 4.37 ERA. Italian American Brooklyn born Joe Sambito who had pitched eight games for the 1985 Mets,  (12 saves) but a 484 ERA & Calvin Schiraldi (nine saves 1.41 ERA).

The World Series starting this year had a new rule which had the designated hitter rule in affect in the American League ball park & the pitcher was to bat in the National League ball park. This mean the Red Sox would be without Don Baylor 31 HRs 94 RBIs at Shea Stadium.

Another key advantage the Mets had was the Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner was playing on badly injured knees. He told his manager he could play & John McNamara chose to put him on the field instead of Baylor who had played just 13 games at first base that season.

Quote- Broadcaster Joe Garagiola: "When your requirement for a hotel room, the most important thing is to be near the ice machine to ice down your leg,  that tells you the determination of that fellow".

The Game was covered by NBC sports with two of the best of all time doing the play by play- Vin Scully & Joe Garagiola. Glen Close long time Mets fan sang the National Anthem & retiring NL president Chub Feeny tossed out the ceremonial first pitch.

The starting pitchers were the Mets Ron Darling (15-6 / 2.81 ERA) who had grown up in Massachusetts a Red Sox fan going against the left hander Bruce Hurst (13-8 / 2.99 ERA). In September Hurst went 5-0 allowing five runs in 42 innings (1.07 ERA) before losing his final start of the regular season. 

In the ALCS win over the Angels he was the Game #2 winner going 1-0 allowing four earned runs in 15 innings with eight K's in two games pitched.

In the NLCS Darling had started Game #3 at Shea allowing four runs on six hits taking no decision in the eventual Mets win where Lenny Dykstra hit the walk off HR. Ron Darling did his homework, calling former Met / Red Sox pitcher Mike Torrez to learn about the older Sox hitter & his teammate Bobby Ojeda  to talk about the younger Sox hitters.

In the top of the 1st inning, Ron Darling got the lead off batter Wade Boggs to ground out to Ray Knight at first base. Next Marty Barrett reached on an infield single then Bill Buckner grounded into an inning ending double play.

In the bottom of the 1st, Bruce Hurst started out striking out both Mookie Wilson & Lenny Dykstra. After retiring the first five batters of the game, he walked Ray Knight & Tim Teufel singled into left field. Rafael Santana then grounded back to Hurst to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Mookie Wilson collected a one out base up the middle. Mookie who had 25 regular season steals, swiped the first base of the World Series. 

Bruce Hurst then walked Lenny Dykstra putting two on for the second straight inning but Keith Hernandez flew out & Gary Carter grounded out to end the inning. 

In the top of the 4th, Ron Darling began the inning striking out Wade Boggs & Marty Barrett. Next Bill Buckner singled to left field, with Jim Rice up Darling threw a wild pitch in the dirt to the right of Gary Carter. Darling had left the staff with seven wild pitches on the regular season. Rice worked the walk but Dwight Evans flew out to Mookie in left to end the inning.

After Tim Teufel's 3rd inning base hit, Bruce Hurst walked two batters but did not allow another hit until the 6th inning. After Keith Hernandez led off with a walk, Gary Carter singled. With two men on & no one out Darryl Strawberry struck out for the second time on the night then Ray Knight hit into an inning ending double play. This was the third & last time on the night the Mets had two base runners on.

In the top of the 5th, Ron Darling gave up a single to Dave Henderson but no further damage was done as he retired the next five batters in a row with the game going scoreless thru the first six innings.

In the top of the 7th, Jim Rice drew a lead off walk, then Darling threw his second wild pitch of the game, landing a few feet in front of Gary Carter bouncing away as Rice advanced to second. Dwight Evans hit a comebacker to Darling, he held the runner getting the out at first.

Next Rich Gedman, who played high school baseball against Ron Darling in Mass. hit a bouncer to Tim Teufel at second. Teufel was fooled at second as the ball never came up & went under his glove. Rice rounded third scoring easily with the first & only run of the game. Darryl Strawberry did not hit the cut off man Keith Hernandez who was frustrated at the play, choosing to fire the ball straight home.

Behind the play Darling was backing up the play & the on deck batter Dave Henderson collided with him as he was heading to give the base runner Rice a sign on whether or not to slide.

Mets World Series Trivia: In the 3rd inning of Game #1 of the 1973 World Series, a Felix Millan error at second base allowed Ken Holtzman to score one of two Oakland A's runs in the 2-1 win over the Mets.

Darling intentionally walked Spike Owen to get to Bruce Hurst who grounded to third to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 7th, Tim Teufel reached on an infield single because John McNamara had Wade Boggs guarding the line. But Boggs ended the inning smothering a grounder to third that he snagged because he was guarding the line.

Darling was done after seven innings, allowing one earned run on three hits, with eight strike outs, four walks & two wild pitches. In the 8th Roger McDowell came on to pitch.

In the bottom of the 8th, Bruce Hurst retired the Mets on three fly ball outs. 

In the top of the 9th, Roger McDowell gave up a single to Jim Rice. Rice had reached base three times in the game with a hit & two walks. After Rich Gedman sacrificed, Dave Henderson singled with his second hit of the night. Spike Owen was intentionally walked, loading the bases to get to the pitchers spot. But Red Sox manager John McNamara removed Bruce Hurst for a pinch hitter, Mike Greenwell who flew out to Len Dykstra ending the inning.

On the night Hurst pitched eight scoreless innings holding the Mets to four hits with for walks & eight strike outs.

In the bottom of the 9th, Dave Stapleton came in to play first base for the hobbling Bill Buckner, something John McNamara did during the ALCS as well. 

On the mound former Met Calvin Schiraldi came into close it out for Boston. Calvin had been traded to Boston before the season in the Bobby Ojeda deal.

Schiraldi Trivia: Calvin had gone 4-2 with nine saves & a 1.41 ERA during the regular season. In Game #4 of the ALCS he had relieved Roger Clemens with two on & one out ahead of the Angles 3-1. Calvin served up a double to Gary Pettis & hit Brian Downing with a pitch bringing in the tying run. 

He remained in the game & gave up a walk off single to Bobby Grich. Calvin came back for a save in Game #5.

Darryl Strawberry led off with a walk, Ray Knight attempted a sacrifice but Straw was out at second. After Wally Backman flew out, Schiraldi struck out pinch hitter  Danny Heep to end the game.

The Sox came up with the 1-0 victory to jump out with a one game to none series lead.

Mets Trivia: The Mets had not been shut out at Shea Stadium all season long.