Remembering Mets History (1989) Kevin McReynolds Hits For the Cycle & Hits A Walk Off HR

 Tuesday, August 1st, 1989: The NL East was a tough division, as the Montreal Expos were in top leading the Chicago Cubs by two games. The St. Louis Cardinals were in third place, five games back with New York Mets right behind them seven games back. 

At the trade deadline, the Mets traded the popular Mookie Wilson to Toronto, they also acquired Frank Viola from the Twins in a blockbuster deal.

On this night game the two division rivals went at it, as Davey Johnson's Mets (54-50) went up against Whitey Herzog's Cards (54-48) at Busch Stadium in St. Louis in front of 40,444 fans. The Mets Sid Fernandez (8-3) went up against Scott Terry (7-9). It was to be a big night for Kevin Mcreynolds.

In the 2nd inning, Kevin McReynolds started out with a double to left. He scored on Barry Lyons' double making it 1-0.

In the 6th inning, Juan Samiel doubled to left, Howard Johnson singled to bring him in for the Mets second run. After Darryl Strawberry flew out, Kevin McReynolds homered to left center field, making it 4-0. McReynolds second hit of the day was his tenth HR of the year.

In the 8th, with Dan Quisenberry now pitching, Howard Johnson singled & stole second. 

Strawberry reached on an outfield error & with two on McReynolds hit a line drive double to score HoJo, no RBI because the run was unearned after the error. 

He scored on Dave Magadan's double, but Magadan was thrown out at third to end the inning. The Mets were rolling with a 7-0 lead for El Sid.

In the 9th, with Ricky Horton pitching for St. Louis, Samiel & Hojo got on with base hits. Darryl Strawberry then walked to load up the bases. Kevin McReynolds came up needing the triple for the cycle, maybe the hardest hit to get in that feat. Sure enough, McReynolds tripled to right field, clearing the bases to make six RBIs on the night. 

Trivia: McReynolds became the fifth Mets player to hit for the cycle, the last to have done it was Keith Hernandez in 1985. The six RBIs were a season high for McReynolds, he would match that best in his Mets career again in 1990 in a game against the San Francisco Giants.

The quiet McReynolds did not talk to the press after the game & showed no emotion after completing the cycle. The press had been on him & he felt like a scapegoat for the teams problems. 

Although he was a fine player, he was not given the proper credit because he was a quiet guy & never got along with the NY media.

McReynolds scored on the next play, giving him four runs scored on the day as well. Four hits, a HR, four runs scored & six RBIs, quite a night.

Sid Fernandez took the win to go to 9-3 & the shut out lowered his ERA to 2.75 on the year. Davey Johnson commented that Fernandez "pretty much had no fastball" on the day. 

In 1989 El Sid would lead the NL in winning % (.737) while going 14-4 with a 2.83 ERA.

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Sunday August 6th, 1989: Five days later the Mets had tied the Cards for third place after taking two of three in the series. 

Tonight, Buck Rogers first place Montreal Expos (63-47) were in town to face Davey Johnson's Mets (58-51). The Expos would end up finishing fourth at 81-81 at the end of the season.

The Mets won 19 of 29 games in August but a 14-15 September had them finish second six games behind the Chicago Cubs.

The Mets had taken the first two games of this series, going for the sweep on a Sunday afternoon matinee in front of 43,658 Shea fans. Sid Fernandez (9-3) went at it again vs the Expos' Kevin Gross (8-8).

Sid Fernandez would pitch eight innings, striking out ten batters. He allowed one run; a sac fly from Tim Wallach in the 4th inning. Sid walked four & gave up five hits. He would reach double figures in strikeouts three times that season, with 16Ks as a high.

Relievers, Kevin Gross pitched into the 8th inning, allowing a HR to Darryl Strawberry, his 23rd of the year. Zane Smith, Joe Hesketh & Andy Mcgaffigan got the Expos to the 14th inning.

Relievers, Randy Meyers, Jeff Innis, Don Aase & Jeff Musselman got the Mets to the 14th inning as well. The Expos threatened in both the 13th & 14th innings, but Musselman retired the side in both innings with Montreal stranding two men on each time.

In the bottom of the 14th, Kevin McReynolds led off against Steve Frey, he ended the game in dramatic fashion with a walk off HR over the left centerfield wall.