Remembering Mets History (1986) World Series Games Three & Four- Mets Take Two At Fenway Park

Tuesday October 21st, 1986 World Series Game #3: After losing the first two games of the World Series at Shea Stadium, the heavily favored Mets were shocked being down two games to none.

The World Series moved to Boston for the next three games, starting Tuesday night a sell out of 33,595 filled Fenway Park. 

Davey Johnson's winningest pitcher of 1986; Bobby Ojeda (18-5 / 2.57 ERA / .783 Win % (best in the NL) got the ball against his old team. Ojeda had come over to the Mets along with John Mitchell & Tom McCarthy in exchange for Calvin Schiraldi who would play a big part in this World Series. The Sox also got John Christensen & Wes Gardner in the deal.

The Red Sox sent pitcher; Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd (16-10 / 129 Ks / 3.78 ERA) to the mound. 

Tonight the Met bats finally woke up, in the 1st inning Lenny Dykstra led off the game with a HR over the right field wall. 

Trivia: Ironically it was the third time a Mets player led off a World Series Game #3 with a HR. Tommie Agee did it in the 1969 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles at Shea & Wayne Garrett did it off Catfish Hunter & the Oakland A's in the 1973 World Series. 

Next, Wally Backman & Keith Hernandez both singled, then "the Kid" Gary Carter blasted a double off the left field Green Monster, driving in Backman, making it 2-0 Mets.

Ray Knight grounded to third and Hernandez broke for the plate, he was caught up in a run downplay. but Wade Boggs blew the tag. He then missed throwing out Carter at second a base as everyone was safe. 

Danny Heep was getting a rare start tonight, as he became the first official Mets Designated hitter. Heep then singled to center brining in two more runs, making it 4-0 New York.

Gary Carter had gone 2-4 in the first two World Series games at Shea Stadium, driving in a run in the 9-3 Game #2 loss. He had been the hero of Game # 5 in the NLCS with a walk off RBI base hit.

In the 6th inning of this World Series Game #3, with one out Rafael Santana & Len Dykstra singled off Oil Can Boyd. After Wally Backman flew out, Keith Hernandez drew a two out walk.

Next, Gary Carter continued his big World Series night, as he drove in two more runs with a base hit to left field. It was a 6-1 lead as Carter had now driven in three runs on the night.

In the 8th inning, Long Island native Joe Sambito came into pitch. Darryl Strawberry led off with a base hit to center, with Ray Knight up, Sambito threw a wild pitch advancing Strawberry. 

Next catcher Rich Gedman was charged with a passed ball & Straw went to third. Ray Knight then doubled to left bringing in the Mets seventh run.

Bobby Ojeda rolled along going seven strong innings, allowing just one run on five hits, while striking out six Red Sox. Roger McDowell came in relief & pitched two perfect innings, as the Mets won it 7-1. They were now back in the Series down two games to one.

Wednesday October 22nd, 1986 -World Series Game #4:

The next night, in Game #4, the Massachusetts Local boy, Ron Darling (15-6 / 2.81 ERA / 184 Ks) got a chance to pitch in the region he grew up in, against the team he once rooted for.

Another Fenway sellout of 33,920 came out on a cool New England night. Manager John McNamarra sent Al Nipper (10-12 / 5.38 ERA) to the mound for the Red Sox.

After taking a rough 1-0 loss in Game #1, Darling would get offensive support in Game #4.

In the 1st inning, Ron Darling was a bit shaky, possible a bit nervous in front of his family & friends, living out a boy hood dream, pitching in a World Series at Fenway Park. 

With one out Marty Barrett doubled to center. Then with two outs Darling walked Jim Rice & Don Baylor to load the bases. But Dwight Evans grounded out to end the inning.

After three shutout innings of work, Al Nipper ran into trouble in the 4th. Wall Backman led off with a base hit & advanced on Keith Hernandez's grounder. Then came Gary Carter.

It was another big night for " the Kid"- Gary Carter. Carter blasted the first of two HRs on the night, a two-run shot over the Green Monster in left giving the Mets a 2-0 lead. Darryl Strawberry then doubled to left followed by a base hit from Ray Knight scoring Straw with the Mets third run.

In the 7th inning, Mookie Wilson singled to center field & stole second. After Rafael Santana struck out, Lenny Dykstra blasted a HR over the right field wall making it 5-0 Mets.

In the top of the 8th inning, Gary Carter hit his second HR of the night. This HR came off Sox reliever, Steve Crawford. Up to this point in the World Series, Carter had seven hits (7-17 with two HRs & seven RBIs). 

In Game #4 he would collect three hits & blast a pair of HRs while driving in three runs. These nights were certainly adding to his spectacular Hall of Fame career.

Ron Darling went seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits, as he struck out four batters but walked six. 

He was relieved by Roger McDowell in the Red Sox 8th inning. Jim Rice doubled & was brought in by Dwight Evans. Rich Gedman then singled & a Dave Henderson sac fly scored Evans.

Jesse Orosco closed the game out in the 9th, as the Mets won it 6-2 & evened up the World Series two games each. 

Trivia: The 1986 World Series games at Fenway Park, was where & when the famous "Daaaaaaryl" chants actually started. 

The Fenway Park, right field Red Sox fans, began taunting Daryl Strawberry with those haunting “Daaaaaryl” chants. He responded by tipping his cap in sarcasm. 

The Met fans responded by taunting reliever (former Met) Calvin Schiraldi in Games Six & Seven.