Remembering Mets History (1989) El Sid Sets Team Record For Lefties With 16 Ks

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Friday July 14th, 1989: On this night Davey Johnson’s New York Mets (46-40) were in third place, three games behind the Montreal Expos & Chicago Cubs.

The Mets were in Atlanta taking on Russ Nixon’s last place Braves (37-52). 

Tonight Sid Fernandez (6-3) took on second year pitcher; John Smoltz (3-2). Tonight, Sid the Hawaiian born Fernandez who had many highlights in his Mets career would enter the record books by setting the mark for strike outs in a game by a left hander.



In the 1st inning, Fernandez struck out Oddibe McDowell & Lonnie Smith. The Mets scored first on a Kevin McReynolds HR in the 2nd inning.

The Braves answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Dale Murphy & Ed Whited both singles and were moved over on a sac bunt. Bruce Benedict singled in Murphy & John Smoltz brought in Whited on a ground out.

In the 4th inning, Sid struck out the side then two of three in the 5th inning. In the 6th he struck out the side again, then two more in the 7th & 8th innings. El Sid was racking up the K’s, he had struck out twelve of fifteen Braves since the 4th inning. 

But Smoltz was doing fine as well, after a Mackey Sasser RBI single in the 5th, he shut out the Mets the rest of the way through eight innings. Joe Boever pitched a scoreless 9th. 

In the bottom of the 9th, Fernandez fine outing was spoiled on a walk off HR by Lonnie Smith. Fernandez struck out a season high; 16 on the night allowing six hits and no walks. 

Sid led the Mets staff in strike outs in 1989 with 198. He won 14 games on the year, one of three Mets pitchers to win 14 games: Ron Darling & David Cone being the others. Bob Ojeda won 13. 

The Mets finished a disappointing second to the Chicago Cubs that year at 87-75

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