Remembering Mets History (1988): NLCS Game #3- Mets Take First Game at Shea to Go Up Two Games to One

Saturday, October 8th, 1988: NLCS Game #3- Shea Stadium in New York.

After a split of the first two games at Los Angeles, the first game back in New York on Friday was postponed due to bad weather. 

The Mets returned home to play at Shea Stadium on Saturday in front of 44,672 for Game #3 in an afternoon matinee. The weather was cloudy & a bit wet but the rain held off. Al Michales, Tim McCarver & Jim Palmer called the game for ABD Sports.

Mets manager Davey Johnson sent Ron Darling (17-9 / 3.25 ERA) to the mound for New York & Tommy Lasorda sent his Game #1 pitcher, Orel Hershiser (23-8 / 2.26 ERA) back to work for L.A. 

But neither pitcher would figure in the decisions in the end. The Dodgers would use five pitchers on the day & the Mets used up four pitchers.

Mets Pitcher Roger McDowell Confirms Rain Out

Ron Darling had an easy 1st inning but was shaky in the 2nd. He walked the first two Dodger batters then gave up a base hit to Mike Scioscia which brought home Mike Marshall for the first run. Jeff Hamilton grounded out to short but John Shelby was able to score & it was quickly 2-0 Dodgers. 

In the top of the 3rd, Stev Sax singled to right & stole second base. He advanced on Mickey Hatchers weak grounder to Keith Hernandez. Kirk Gibson then grounded out to second allowing Sax to score the Dodgers third run.

Orel Hershiser retired the Mets in order in the first two innings. 

In the home 3rd, with one out
Mookie Wilson struck out but reached base as the ball got by Mike Scioscia. Gregg Jefferies then hit a single to center field, advancing Mookie. 

After Keith Hernandez flew out, Darryl Strawberry doubled with a liner to right field, he brought in Mookie with the Mets first run. Hershiser struck out Kevin McReynolds to end the inning.

Both pitchers rolled along until the 6th inning. Darling walked two batters but managed to strike out Alfredo Griffin & Hershiser to end the inning. 

In the bottom of the 6th, Keith Hernandez & Darryl Strawberry singled to start the inning. Kevin McReynolds then reached on a throwing error by third baseman Jeff Hamilton to load the bases. Next, Gary Carter singled to right field scoring Hernandez. 

Then Wally Backman got a ball through second & first base for a hit, scoring Strawberry to tie the game, as Shea Stadium went wild.

Ron Darling was removed after six innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four walks & five
strike outs. In the 7th Roger McDowell came on to pitch & retired the side in order. Hershiser retired the Mets in the 7th as well.

In the top of the 8th after striking out the first two Dodgers in the inning, Roger McDowell surrendered base hits to Mike Scioscia & Jeff Hamilton. He then walked pinch hitter Mike Davis to load the bases. Davey Johnson seen enough & went to his closer Randy Myers. Myers walked Mike Sharperson to put L.A. ahead 4-3.

For the Dodgers, Orel Hershiser was removed after going seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits with four strike outs & four walks. 

In the home 8th, Jay Howell started the inning for the Dodgers but walked Kevin McReynolds to start the inning. 

Drama: There was some drama where the home plate umpire Joe West & crew chief Harry Wendelstedt checked Jay Howell's glove for foreign substances. 

Howell was thrown out of the game as something was found. The glove was brought over to MLB Commissioner Bart Giamatti who was in attendance. Former NL president Chub Feeney was also there with Giamatti. 

Eventually play resumed. Tommy Lasorda brought in Alejandro Pena to pitch. 

Howard Johnson reached on a force play & stole second. Gary Carter flew out for the second out. Wally Backman then doubled to center, Hojo scored tying the game at four. 

After Len Dykstra walked, Lasorda went to his bullpen & brought in former Mets relief star of the 1986 post season, Jesse Orosco.

Mookie Wilson greeted him with a single to bring home Backman with the go ahead run. Greg Jefferies was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Keith Hernandez then drew a bases loaded walk off Orosco bringing in another run, giving the Mets a 6-4 lead.

Davey Johnson put in Kevin Elster to run for Gregg Jefferies. Tommy Lasorda went to his bullpen once again, bringing in Ricky Horton. 

Darryl Strawberry followed with a pop fly single, bringing in two more runs as Mookie Wilson & Kevin Elster both scored to cap off the Mets victory.

In the 9th David Cone was brought in to shut the door with a save. The Mets took two games to one lead in the series with the 8-4 victory.