Remembering Mets History (1985) Keith Hernandez Starts Out the Month With Two Big Games
The Mets starter was Ed Lynch (10-7) going up against the Giants, Dave LaPoint (7-11) in front of a small crowd of 9,975 at Candlestick Park.
For Keith Hernandez it was always special playing in the Bay Area where he grew up, playing against the team he grew up watching as his father took him & his brother to games. Keith would not get the start in this game, as Gary Carter got a rare start at first base.
The Mets were in a funk as they had just lost four of five games, but after today would go on a five-game win streak, taking seven of eight.
In the 4th inning, Mets first baseman that day, Gary Carter tied up the game with a solo HR, his 20th blast of the year.
In the Giants 6th inning, with the score still tied at one, Dan Driessen & Ron Roenicke both singled. Ed Lynch got former Met Joel Youngblood to pop up to Wally Backman for the second out. But Bob Brenly then doubled bringing in both runners giving the Giants a 3-1 lead.
In the 9th, the Mets Howard Johnson led off with a double off Giants reliever, Scott Garrelts.
Trivia: Garrelts would transition to a starter & lead the NL in ERA in 1989 leading the Giants to a pennant.
Mookie Wilson followed with a fly ball base hit that landed in short left field, but Bowa was thrown out at home plate by short stop Jose Uribe.
Davey Johnson then sent up Keith Hernandez to pinch hit, facing reliever Mark Davis. Davis went 5-12 that year but in the 1989 Giants pennant season, led the NL in saves (44) & appearances (65).
Hernandez who as usual on a trip to San Francisco, had family & friends in the crowd. He did not disappoint, as he blasted a two run HR off Davis. It was his 9th HR of the year & his 72nd & 73rd RBIS.
Hernandez who as usual on a trip to San Francisco, had family & friends in the crowd. He did not disappoint, as he blasted a two run HR off Davis. It was his 9th HR of the year & his 72nd & 73rd RBIS.
It turned out to be the game's winning runs as Jesse Orosco closed the door in the bottom of the 9th inning.
Trivia: Keith Hernandez led the league in game winning RBI's that season, a stat that was official at the time.
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beautiful San Diego to play Dick Williams third place Padres (69-60). The Padres were the reigning NL Champions, having had lost the 1984 World Series to the Detroit Tigers.
On this evening, the Mets Sid Fernandez (5-8) went up against the friars Mark Thurmond (6-7).
The Mets star of last night's game, Keith Hernandez would have another big night, as he would collect five hits, tying a Mets record at the time, for most hits in a game.
In the 2nd inning, Wally Backman singled & then stole second. In his second at bat, Hernandez singled again bringing in Backman to make it 5-1. Strawberry also collected another RBI with a base hit scoring Hernandez making it a 6-1 game.
In the 4th inning, Hernandez collected his third single of the game. In the 7th inning, Hernandez got his fourth single of the evening. He advanced on Gary Carter's base hit, then scored his fourth run of the day, on George Foster's single. Ray Knight added a three run HR making it 10-1 Mets.
In the 8th inning, Keith Hernandez topped off his five-hit day with a two run HR, bringing in Tom Paciorek who had singled, making it 12-3. It was Hernandez's tenth HR of the year.
Trivia: Keith finished the night batting just under the .300 mark. He would finish the year batting .309 (6th in the NL) with 183 hits (8th in the NL) 87 runs scored 10 HRs 34 doubles & 91 RBIs (10th in the NL).
Sid Fernandez took the complete game victory (6-8) lowering his ERA to 2.84. The Mets were now just one game behind the Cardinals in the NL East.
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