Remembering Mets History (1986) World Series Game #5: Mets One Game Away From Elimination as They Fall to Sox in Fenway Finale

Thursday October 23rd, 1986: Fenway Park, Boston: The series was now even at two games
each, the final three games of the season would determine the Champions. The Mets now had the momentum on their side winning the last two games. All of the Series wins have come from the visiting team with home field not being an advantage- yet.

The media asked Boston manager John McNamara about his slumping hitters, mainly Wade Boggs & Bill Buckner who had both won batting titles. Together they were 6-35 with a .171 batting average.

Quotes- John McNamara: "Sure I'm concerned but what am I going to do about it".

Motown legend Smokey Robinson sung the National anthem. Red Sox legend & one of the greatest hitters baseball ever saw, Ted Williams "the Splendid Splinter" threw out the ceremonial first pitch. 

Mets manager  Davey Johnson had chosen to go with a three man rotation & placed Sid Fernandez in the bullpen. Tonight he went with Dwight Gooden on three days rest, the first time 21 year old Gooden had ever pitched on three days rest. 

In his last start at Shea, Gooden was rocked for six runs on eight hits in five innings of work taking the loss & serving up two HRs. 

Meanwhile McNamara went with lefty Bruce Hurst who had won the opener pitching eight shut out innings holding New York to just four hits.

Tonight's game would be the final game played at Fenway Park in the 1986 season as a full house of 34,010 filed in for the action.

Sadly, outside of Fenway Park the previous night Ron Darlings wife, Irish model Toni Darling was mugged outside the ball park. Thankfully, she was not harmed as low life thieves stole $900 & two tickets to the ball game from her purse.

Toni said she doesn't not hold any grudges against the city of Boston.

Quotes- Ron Darling: "Fortunately the only thing that was lost was money. That's something we can replace. Fenway is great, this is my backyard".

In the bottom of the 1st, Dwight Gooden walked Marty Barrett then picked him off first. Bill Buckner & Jim Rice followed with singles, then Gooden hit Don Baylor on the arm with a pitch loading the bases. But Dwight Evans flew out to Mookie Wilson to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 2nd Dave Henderson who came into the game batting .429 (6-14) in the World Series drilled a shot to the right center field gap, getting by Darryl Strawberry who misplayed the ball, then Lenny Dykstra fielded the ball then slipped & fell down as Henderson glided into third with a triple. 

Spike Owen hit a sac fly to left scoring Henderson for the first run of the game.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Gooden's troubles continued, first Bill Buckner reached on an error by Rafael Santana at short. Then Jim Rice reached for the second time with a walk. Gooden struck out Don Baylor, recording his first strike out of the game. 

Dwight Evans who had been retired to end the inning with the bases loaded in the 1st inning  the past two nights, came thru as he singled to center field, an ailing Bill Buckner hobbled around the bases & slid head first to the plate as Len Dykstra's throw went wide. Rich Gedman flew out for the third out.

Boston had a 2-0 lead due to the Mets defensive mistakes, Strawberry misplayed Henderson's triple & Santana's error at short.

In the bottom of the 5th, Jim Rice hit a fly ball to center field, the wind blew the ball away from Len Dykstra & almost went over the short angled wall in right field. 

The ball bounced off the wall away from Dykstra, Darryl Strawberry had to field it as Rice reached third with the Red Sox second triple of the game. Dwight Gooden had no luck tonight.

Don Baylor then looped a base hit to right field scoring Rice with the Red Sox third run 3-0. After Dwight Evans singled with his second hit of the game, Davey Johnson came out to get Dwight Gooden.

On the night Gooden gave up four runs (three earned) on nine hits with two walks. He had two strikes on batters twelve times on the night but only finished off with three strike outs. His fastball was not good all  night & half the night he used curve balls.

Gooden's Woes: Overall in the World Series Gooden gave up ten runs (eight earned) on 17 hits with four walks & nine strike outs in nine innings of work for an 8.00 ERA in two starts. Overall in the post season he was 0-3 allowing 12 runs (ten earned) on 33 hits with nine walks & 18 K's in 26 innings over four starts posting a 3.46 ERA. The Doctor was not himself & it wouldn't be until later in the future he would admit to his drug problems.

Quotes- Doc Gooden: "The next two days I'll go out & cheer my team on & hope we get two victories."

Davey Johnson brought in Sid Fernandez, a left hander he did not want to use at Fenway Park. Sid struck out Rich Gedman, then the hot hitting Dave Henderson doubled down the third base line driving in the Sox fourth run as Don Baylor scored making it 4-0. 

Henderson had his third multi-hit game of the World Series collecting his eighth hit, fourth RBI & was now batting .471.

The Red Sox long two run inning took a half hour to play, with pitcher Bruce Hurst sitting in the cold dugout all that time. But it didn't affect him as he shut down the heart of the Mets order in the top of the 6th, getting Darryl Strawberry looking at a third strike. 

Straw's Woes: In frustration Straw had words with home plate umpire Ed Montague but Bill Robinson & Keith Hernandez stepped in before Straw was ejected. In the World Series thru the first five games Straw was hitting .222 (4-18) with no RBIs & six strike outs. In 11 post season games he had struck out 18 times in 40 at bats.

In the 7th Ray Knight singled to start the inning but Hurst retired the next three batters.

In the top of the 8th, Tim Teufel hit a HR to right field finally putting the Mets on the board. After 15 consecutive scoreless innings, the Mets had finally put up a run on Bruce Hurst. 

Keith Hernandez broke an 0-3 night with a base hit to right field. He advanced on Gary Carter's ground out. Darryl Strawberry continued to struggle as he pooped out to Wade Boggs to end the inning. Straw was clearly frustrated as Keith Hernandez once again tried to console the right fielder.

Sid Fernandez retired the next ten batters in a row getting to the 8th inning & stopping the Red Sox scoring. 

Daaaarrrryl: In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Boston fans in right field tormented Darryl Strawberry who had been struggling mightily in the Series. The now famous chants of "Daaaaarrrrryl- Daaaaaarrrryl" echoed thru Fenway Park.

Quotes- Vin Scully: "It's a tough time for any kid & especially now as he stands naked under the world out there in right field & they taunt him & they chant his name. I tell you it's a tough business".

Quotes- Joe Garagiola: "He takes off his cap & reacts to it. It's just been a tough time" 

In the bottom of thee 8th with two outs wade Boggs singled & Marty Barrett doubled to put two men on 

Post Season Hit Record: The Red Sox Marty Barrett set a new post season record hit mark collecting twenty hits. In the World Series Barrett had hit safely in each game with four straight multi-hit games. He was now batting .392 in the post season. During the regular season he batted .286.

But Sid got Bill Buckner to pop up to end the inning. Fernandez gave the Mets four scoreless innings out of the bullpen while striking out five.

Bruce Hurst came out for the 9th inning, as did Dave Stapleton to play first base. It was the seventh straight post season game Stapleton came in to replace Bill Buckner & his hurting knees. Hurst got Ray Knight & Kevin Mitchell to ground out. Mookie Wilson then doubled & Rafael Santana singled to right scoring Moonie with the Mets second run. Hurst then struck out Len Dykstra to end the game.

Met- Killer: Bruce Hurst pitched a complete game win, allowing two runs on ten hits, striking out six & walking one. In the NLCS it was Mike Scott & in the World Series it's now Bruce Hurst who has mesmerized the Mets bats. 

In his two World Series games, Hurst became a new Met Killer, in 17 innings of work he gave up just two runs on 14 hits striking out 14 & walking five posting a 1.06 ERA.

It was now back to New York with Boston up three games to two as they will be trying to win their first championship since 1918. The Mets had their back up against the wall & were in a must win situation.