Remembering Mets History: (1988) NLCS Game #1: Mets Take Opener as Gooden Battles Hershiser

Tuesday October 4th,1988 NLCS Game #1 - Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California / Attendance: 55,582

Davey Johnson's Mets had won their second divisional title in three years & were the heavy favorite going into the post season. The Mets had won 100 games (100-60) & dominated the Dodgers in the regular season. 

Darryl Strawberry led the NL in HRs (39) that season as well as slugging %. Wally Backman was the only Met in the starting lineup that had hit over .300. Howard Johnson was establishing himself as a true slugger & veterans Gary Carter & Keith Hernandez were entering the twilights of their careers.

The '88 Mets staff had twenty game winner: David Cone (20-3) as well as Dwight Gooden (18-9) Ron Darling (17-9) Sid Fernandez (12-10) & Bobby Ojeda (10-13). In the bullpen closer Randy Meyers had 26 saves. 

Bad Luck: The Mets took a big blow when Bobby Ojeda injured himself in a gardening accident just before the series.

Meanwhile Tommy Lasorda's Dodgers had gone 94-67 finishing seven games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds. This was a team of destiny, as they would shock the Mets & then the mighty Oakland A's in the World Series.

Orel Hershiser was the Cy Young winner (23-8 / 2.26 ERA) & the offense was led by Kirk Gibson 25 HRs 76 RBIs & .290 average.

 Although his numbers were nowhere near Darryl Strawberry's stats, Kirk won the NL MVP Award that year?

Game #1 had a classic pitching matchup of Dwight Gooden & Orel Hershiser.

Orel Hershiser retired the Mets in order in the 1st. In the bottom of the 1st, the Dodgers leadoff man Steve Sax singled & stole second base.

 After Gooden struck out Franklin Stubs & retired Kirk Gibson, Mike Marshall singled to right bringing in Sax with the first run.

The Mets put two on in the 3rd, with base hits from Gary Carter & Mookie Wilson but were not able to capitalize.

In the 3rd inning, Gooden walked Hershiser to start the inning then hit Sax with a pitch to put
two on with no outs. But he then struck out the next three Dodgers to get out of the inning.

Hershiser retired nine Mets in a row into the 6th inning. Gregg Jefferies & Keith Hernandez both reached on base hits, but Darryl Strawberry grounded out to end the inning.

Gooden also was rolling along holding the Dodgers down, in the 5th inning he struck out Hershiser & Sax. 

In the 6th he struck out the side as Kirk Gibson & Mike Marshall were caught looking at third strikes & John Shelby went down swinging. Gooden collected ten strike outs on the day.

In the home 7th inning. Dodger catcher Mike Scioscia led off with a double to deep right field. He was brought in on Alfredo Griffin's base hit, making it a 2-0 Dodger lead. 

Griffin was caught stealing & Hershiser grounded out to end the inning.

It was Gooden's last inning. On the day, he went seven innings, allowing the two runs, four hits & walked just one while striking out ten.

Orel Hershiser got to the 9th inning with the 2-0 lead. He had shut out the Mets, striking out six &
allowing just four hits going into that 9th inning.

In the 9th, Greg Jefferies led off with a base hit & was moved over to second base on Keith Hernandez's ground out to the right side.

 Darryl Strawberry followed with a double to center field, bringing home Jefferies making it a 2-1 game.

Tommy Lasorda removed Hershiser & brought in reliever Jay Howell to pitch. Howell walked his first batter Kevin McReynolds, but then struck out Howard Johnson for the second out. 

With the winning runs on base, Gary Carter stepped in & delivered with a line drive double to center field. 

Both Strawberry & McReynolds scored as the Kid came through & the Mets now had a 3-2 lead. Carter's runs proved to be the game winner. 

Randy Meyers closed out the 9th inning retiring the side in order. The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the Series.