Remembering Mets History: (1986) Ray Knight's Two Walk Off Hits

July 3rd 1986: This matchup was a preview of that years NLCS as Davey Johnson's first place Mets (53-21) hosted Hal Lanier's first place Houston Astros (42-36).

A large crowd of 38,839 filled up Shea Stadium to see Ron Darling take on Jim Deshaies.

Starting Lineups

	Houston Astros				New York Mets
1	Bill Doran	2B		1	Mookie Wilson	CF
2	Ty Gainey	CF		2	Kevin Mitchell	SS
3	Denny Walling	3B		3	Darryl Strawberry	RF
4	Glenn Davis	1B		4	Gary Carter	1B
5	Kevin Bass	RF		5	George Foster	LF
6	Jose Cruz	LF		6	Ray Knight	3B
7	Craig Reynolds	SS		7	Tim Teufel	2B
8	John Mizerock	C		8	Ed Hearn	C
9	Jim Deshaies	P		9	Ron Darling	P

Houston banged up Darling in the 1st inning with Bill Doran leading off with a double & a Ty Gainey base hit making it 1-0. Eventually Glen Davis' base hit would score Gainey making it a quick 2-0.

In the home 2nd reserve catcher Ed Hearn put the Mets on the board with a solo HR.

Later in the 5th inning, with Houston leading 3-1 Darryl Strawberry hit his 11th HR of the year a two run shot scoring Kevin Mitchell, tying up the game at three.

The starters held each team down from there as Darling put up nine innings of work, allowing three runs on five hits with nine strike outs. The nine Ks were the second highest single game season total for Darling.

Jim Deshaies lasted seven innings with Charlie Kerfield going to scoreless to get to the 10th. In the top of the 10th Houston put up  runs on Jesse Orosco as Phil Garner hit a two run HR. But these Mets were never done & showed Houston what was to come in the NLCS.

In the bottom of the 10th after many defensive moves including a new pitcher, as Frank DiPino took the mound the Mets attacked. Len Dykstra walked & Darryl Strawberry hit a two run HR, his second of the game & 12th of the year, tying it up at five. 

Then with two outs, Ray Knight connected for his ninth HR of the year a walk off game winner, as New York went on to a 6-5 extra inning win.

A month later on August 3rd, the Mets (69-32) hosted Buck Rodgers Montreal Expos (50-50) in what was to be another Ray Knight extra inning walk off win. Tonight Bobby Ojead went up against Bryn Smith.

Starting Lineups

	Montreal Expos				New York Mets
1	Al Newman	2B		1	Lenny Dykstra	CF
2	Luis Rivera	SS		2	Wally Backman	2B
3	Tim Raines	LF		3	Keith Hernandez	1B
4	Andre Dawson	RF		4	Kevin Mitchell	LF
5	Tim Wallach	3B		5	Danny Heep	RF
6	Vance Law	1B		6	Ray Knight	3B
7	George Wright	CF		7	Ed Hearn	C
8	Dann Bilardello	C		8	Rafael Santana	SS
9	Bryn Smith	P		9	Bob Ojeda	P

Rafael Santana would put the Mets up 1-0 early on in the 2nd inning with an RBI hit. The game would remain that way all the way to the 7th inning until Andre Dawon singled in  Luis Rivera to tie it.

In the Mets 8th inning, Keith Hernandez walked & advanced on a Danny Heep single to left. Ray Knight then stepped in & doubled to left field scoring both runners putting the Mets up 3-1. But Ojeda couldn't hold the Expos down Tim Raines & Andre Dawson tied with RBI singled in the top of the 9th.

Roger McDowell came on for the Mets & Bob McLure for Montreal. In the bottom of the 10th Wally Backman led off with a base hit.

Tim Burke relived McLure & gave up a Kevin Mitchell base hit. After Howard Johnson made the Mets second out, Ray Knight came on & singled to score Backman with the games winning run. It was another walk off hit for Knight in a months span.