Remembering Mets History (1986) Gary Carter's Seven RBI Night Ignites Another Mets Brawl

Friday July 11th, 1986: Davey Johnson's first place Mets (57-25) had a 11.5 game lead over the second place Montreal Expos. They hosted Chuck Tanner's fourth place Atlanta Braves (42-44) in front of 39,924 at Shea Stadium. The Mets' Sid Fernandez (11-2) went up against Atlanta's David Palmer (5-7) in a nationally broadcast game by Vin Scully & Joe Garagiola on NBC Sports..

On this night Carter drove in his Mets career high seven runs, while hitting two HRs, including a grand slam & a three run shot. Gary Carter would hit 11 grand slam HRs in his Hall of Fame career. He would have three games in the 1986 season, where he would hit two HRs.

In the '86 Championship season, Carter drove in 105 runs, the third straight season where he drove in 100 or more runs. He had four 100 plus RBI seasons in his career.

 

On the mound Sid Fernandez had his best outing of the regular season. He shut out the Braves on two hits while striking out nine & walking three. The win bought him to 12-2 with a 2.67 ERA on the season.

In the bottom of the 1st inning, Lenny Dykstra walked & Wally Backman got a bunt base hit. Carter came up with two out hit his first HR of the evening, a three-run shot making it 3-0 Mets. It was his 15th of the season. 

Carter went to the dugout to a standing ovation from the Shea Faithful, he came out raised his fist in the air & gave a classic 1986 Mets curtain call. This was a familiar scene at Shea during the '86 Championship season. But Braves pitcher David Palmer, wasn't amused.

On the next pitch Palmer hit Mets outfielder Darryl Strawberry in the back. Straw dropped his bat & charged the mound. Palmer threw his glove at Darryl & jumped away.

The Braves catcher Ozzie Virgil temporarily stopped Straw & home plate umpire Jerry Crawford grabbed Palmer. 

The dugouts emptied, Keith Hernandez & Ron Darling came charging after Palmer. Rick Aguilera was right there too. There was a big shoving match going on at the pitcher's mound. Order was eventually restored & no one got ejected.

In the 2nd inning, opportunity came again for Carter. Sid Fernandez & Wally Backman both singled, then with two outs, Keith Hernandez drew a walk to load the bases. David Palmer was still on the mound for Atlanta.

Carter gave it to him again, this time blasting a grand slam HR down the left field line. It was Carter's second HR in as many innings, giving him seven RBIs on the night. It was Kid's 16th HR & he now had 65 RBIs on the season.

Chuck Tanner finally came out & got his pitcher, by this time Palmer heard the Shea boo birds, on a night where he wanted to crawl in a hole.

The Mets weren't done, in the 3rd inning Ray Knight tripled. Kevin Mitchell walked & back-to-back doubles from Sid Fernandez & Len Dykstra made it 10-0 off new pitcher Craig McMurty. It was only the 3rd inning.

Ray Knight added an RBI single off McMurty in the 4th to cap off the 11-0 blow out.