Remembering Mets History (1985) Keith Hernandez Leads Mets In Twenty Hit 14 Run Attack

Thursday August 8, 1985: Davey Johnson's first place New York Mets (63-42) had just taken over the NL East first place position from the St. Louis Cardinals. 

Tonight, the Mets were in Montreal, Canada facing Jim Fanning's third place Expos (59-48). 

A Stade Olympique crowd of 24,919 came on to see New York's Rick Aguilera (4-3) take on, the Expos Joe Hesketh (8-5)

In the top of the 1st, with one out, short time MLB veteran, Tom Paciorek walked & stole second. Keith Hernandez, then singled bringing in Paciorek to make it 1-0 Mets.

 In the home 1st, the Expos beat up Aguilera as Tim Raines led off with a walk, Vance Law doubled him in. Hubie Brooks also doubled & a Tim Wallach sac fly made it 3-1 Expos.

In the top of the 2nd, the Mets came back. Ray Knight singled, then the pitcher Rick Aguilera doubled, putting runners on second & third. Wally Backman's fielder's choice brought home Knight with the Mets second run as Aguilera was thrown out at third.


With two outs, Tom Paciorek doubled putting two men on again for Hernandez. Keith followed with his 25th double of the year, bringing in both runs, giving the Mets a 4-3 lead. His third RBIs of the game.

Gary Carter, followed with his 14th HR of the year, a two-run shot to make it 6-3 Mets.

In the 3rd, Ray Knight & Rafael Santana both singled. Wally Backman tripled, bringing in both runners, making it a 8-3 Mets lead.

In the 4th, Keith Hernandez led off with a base hit, his third hit in as many at bats. George Foster then blasted his 16th HR of the year, coming off reliever Bert Roberge, giving the Mets a 10-3 lead, as the blow out was on.

The Expos got some runs back off Aguilera in the 4th inning, starting with base hits by Hubie Brooks & Terry Francona. Tim Wallach then doubled bringing in Brooks, Herm Winningham grounded out scoring Francona to make it 10-5.  A sac fly by former Met, Mike Fitzgerald made it a 10-6 game. 

In the 5th, Backman singled & Tom Paciorek was hit by a pitch from David Palmer. 

Next up Keith Hernandez singled collecting his fourth hit of the night, scoring Backman making it
11-6.  Gary Carter also singled bringing in the Mets 12th run as Paciorek crossed the plate. A George Foster base hit brought home Hernandez to make it 13-6 Mets. 

The Mets scoring was completed when Darryl Strawberry hit his16th HR of the year, which tied Foster for the team lead. The Mets would win the game 14-7, collecting twenty hits on the night, along with three HRs.

Keith Hernandez led the Mets attack with a five-hit game, driving in three runs & scoring three runs. He kept his season average above the .300 mark. 

George Foster had three hits, with a HR with & three RBIs on the night as well. Wally Backman had two hits, with three RBIs & scored two runs. 

Tom Paciorek scored three runs on the night, with a walk & base hit. Gary Carter, Ray Knight, Daryl Strawberry & Rafael Santana all had two hits each.

Rick Aguilera did not have a good night; he gave up seven runs in five innings but was bailed out by the Mets bats to earn the win. 

Terry Leach came on to pitch four scoreless innings, getting credit for a save. The Mets won their fourth game in a row as they were in the middle of a nine-game winning streak. They would win 12 of 13 in this stretch.