Remembering Mets History: (1986 & 1987) Looking Back At Two of Tim Teufel's Walk Off Hits
The Mets starter; Sid Fernandez was outstanding tonight. Through seven innings he shut out the Braves, allowing just four hits, with one walk while striking out ten. The Braves Rick Mahler shut the Mets out through six innings, allowing seven hits & walking three but always got out of a jam when needed.
Roger McDowell came on for the Mets & shut out the Braves in the 8th & 9th innings. The Braves reliever Paul Assenmacher had come on in the 7th inning with the bases loaded & one out. He got Kevin Mitchell to ground out & then struck out Howard Johnson.
In the bottom of the 9th inning, the Shea crowd of 25,906 began their "Lets Go Mets" chants. Ray Knight who was hot, was batting .326 & led off with a double. Knight had hit just .218 in 1985 and was almost let go by upper management, but Davey Johnson asked to keep him around one more year. It sure paid off.
Mets second base man; Tim Teufel stepped in, he had already singled in the 2nd & again in the 7th innings. Teufel delivered again with a base hit to score Knight with the winning walk off run. The win was the Mets 12th in their last 14 games.
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Friday May 1st 1987: Davey Johnson's second place Mets (12-9) hosted Buck Rodgers fifth place Montreal Expos (8-13) in front of 28,808 fans at Shea Stadium.
The Mets got to Expo starter Bryn Smith with HRs by Daryl Strawberry (two run shot) & catcher Barry Lyons. In the home 3rd the Mets Kevin McReynolds doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch & scored on a fielders choice.
Mets pitcher Ron Darling doubled bringing in another run & Lenny Dykstra's base hit made it 6-4 Mets.
Darling had his own troubles, giving up HRs to former Met Mike Fitzgerald, Wallace Johnson & a three run shot to Tom Foley. A 6th inning RBI double to Tim Wallach tied it up at six.
In the 9th, Jesse Orosco got out of a bases loaded jam & Montreal's Bob McLure came on to try to get to extra innings. After Len Dykstra flied out, Tim Teufel came up as a pinch hitter for Wally Backman. Teufel came through with a dramatic walk off HR to give the Mets an exciting win.
In 1987 Teufel would play 97 games for the Mets, the most in his five seasons in New York. He hit a career best .308 matching career highs in HRs (14) & RBIs (61).
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