Remembering Mets History (1990): "Sweet Music" Frank Viola Sets Franchise Record With Nine Straight Wins

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Saturday May 12th, 1990: In this Matinee at Shea, Davey Johnson's Mets (16-14) hosted Tommy Lasorda's L.A. Dodgers (14-17) in front of 41,935.

Things were slowly going sour for the Mets, since the '86 Championship Season, the Mets only made the post season one more time in 1988. They would fire Davey Johnson during the 1990 season & give Bud Harrelson the position. But things would get even worse for Bud into the nineties. 

But on this day, Mets pitcher Frank Viloa, known as "Sweet Music" would set a franchise record, by winning his ninth start in a row, dating back to last season. For Viola, he started out 1990 at 6-0 entering this game, with a 1.05 ERA. He had 45 strike outs with just five walks in 44 innings of work.

Two starts earlier, on May 2nd, Viola shut out the Cincinnati Reds on a six hitter at Shea, striking out a season high eleven. 

In the top of the 1st, Juan Samuel flew out to start the game. Then Frank Viola struck out Willie
Randolph & Kal Daniels to end the inning. Viola cruised through the game, the Dodgers did get two base runners in the 2nd, but Viola got Alfredo Griffin to ground out to end a threat.

He retired seven in a row, before a Mike Sharperson single started the 5th inning. With two outs, John Shelby singled but Viola got Sauel to ground out to end the inning. Over the next four innings, the Dodgers managed just one hit off Viola as he went on to his seventh straight victory of the season. 

In this four-hit shutout, Viola struck out seven, while walking just one, lowering his ERA to 0.87. 

Franchise Record: The win was his ninth straight dating back to last season, setting a Mets franchise record. 

Viola won twenty games for the Mets that year, going 20-12 (2nd most wins in the NL) with a 2.67 ERA (4th best in the NL), leading the league in innings pitched (249.2) & starts (35) striking out 182 & walking 60. He pitched seven complete games (5th most in the NL) 

In the 2nd, the Mets Mike Marshall doubled with two outs. Daryl Boston then singled to left giving the Mets a 1-0 lead. In the 3rd, Barry Lyons singled & was sacrificed over by Viola. Dodger pitcher, John Wetteland then walked Greg Jefferies & Kevin Elster. Howard Johnsons ground out brought in Lyons & Darryl Strawberry's single scored Jeffries to make it 3-0.

In the 4th, with two outs, Lyons singled & Viola reached on an error. With two on, Greg Jefferies doubled scoring Lyons. Next, Kevin Elster singled to left bring home Viola & Jefferies, capping off the 6-0 Mets win.

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