Remembering Mets History (1986) Bobby Ojeda Goes to 5-0 & Strikes Out a Season High Ten Batters

Friday May 9th, 1986: Another exciting 1986 Mets night game, drew 40,774 to Shea Stadium to see Davey Johnson's first place Mets (19-4) take on Pete Rose's struggling Cincinnati Reds (6-18) in the Friday evening opener of a three-game series.

The Reds would go 86-76 & finish second to the Astros that year, ten games back.

The Mets undefeated starter Bobby Ojeda (4-0) took the hill against the Reds Mario Soto (2-3).

Bobby Ojeda had come over to the Mets in November, from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for pitchers Calvin Schiraldi, Wes Gardner & John Christensen. Ojeda joined an already outstanding Mets starting staff of Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling & Sid Fernandez. 

Ojeda who figured to be just a fourth or fifth starter, arguably he became the ace of that staff going leading the team in wins (18) winning % (.783) ERA (2.57) & shutouts (2) tied with Gooden & Darling. Among the four Mets starters who tossed 200+ innings, Ojeda walked the fewest batters (52) & had the least loses (5).

In the 1st inning Bobby Ojeda would start out strong striking out Tracey Jones & Dave Parker.

Veteran Dave Concepcion singled but got thrown out trying to steal second. In the 2nd inning, Ojeda struck out the side, getting Tony Perez swinging, Buddy Bell looking & Eric Davis swinging at the third strike. 

Ojeda held the Reds scoreless over the next two innings. In the 5th inning, Buddy Bell doubled, advanced on Eric Davis' fly ball & scored on Ron Oester's sac fly.

That would be the only run Ojeda would allow on the night. The Reds would scatter base hits in each of the next three innings, but nothing more. Only three Reds would reach second base or beyond all evening. 

Ojeda struck out a season high ten batters on the night. It was just the second time in his career he had reached double figures in strike outs in a game.

In the 6th inning, Ojeda struck out Dave Parker. In the 7th he fanned Buddy Bell & Eric Davis for the second time each. In the 8th he struck out Kurt Stilwelll to start the inning. 

Ojeda would pitch eight innings, allowing a run, on six hits with a walk while besting his record to 5-0 with a 1.49 ERA. 

For the Reds Mario Soto pitched well holding the Mets scoreless until the 6th inning. Tim Teufel led off with a single. Bobby Ojeda then popped out. Lenny Dykstra drew a walk putting two on for Howard Johnson. Hojo then doubled, Teufel scored to tie the game, but Dykstra was held at third. 

Reds manager Pete Rose chose to walk Keith Hernandez intentionally to get to Darryl Strawberry. Straw then hit a sac fly to left field, scoring Dykstra with what was to be the games winning run in the 2-1 victory. Roger McDowell closed out the 9th inning for his third save.

The Mets had won their sixth game in a row, on what was to be a seven-game win streak. The Mets had swept the Reds in three games in Cincinnati to start the streak, then took two in Houston & then two more over the Reds in this series at Shea. The Mets would go 8-4 to the Reds in 1986.